Auto Industry Archives | Page 26 of 592

Video: 1955 Belgian GP movie tells the story of Spa

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Europe, Videos, Ferrari, Racing

With the Belgian Formula One Grand Prix happening this weekend, Shell reminded a few guests what the Spa-Francorchamps track and Belgian countryside were like in 1955. That year the petroleum company made a 30-minute movie about the grand prix – this is back when the track was called the Francorchamps National Circuit, near the town of Spa, and a list of its important corners didn’t include a mention of Eau Rouge – where it was doing the same thing it still does today: working on fuels and lubricants via its technical partnership with Ferrari.

To create the mood, journalists were invited to a vintage cinema where they mingled with Ferrari F1 drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa and other extras in period fifties gear, and watched a screening of 1955 Belgian Grand Prix. You can scroll down for a screening of your own, as well as the press release, minus the petits-fours and pinups.

Continue reading 1955 Belgian GP movie tells the story of Spa

1955 Belgian GP movie tells the story of Spa originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Aug 2013 20:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: 1955 Belgian GP movie tells the story of Spa”

Video: Rage Comet R is a supercar for the road, dirt and sky

Filed under: Performance, Videos, UK, Specialty, Off-Road, Racing

The Rage Comet R can be driven on the road or off-road.

In a perfect world, every vehicle would do everything well. In reality, the Ford SVT Raptor will tear up desert landscapes like no other production truck, but it will also struggle to grip the tarmac at a racetrack. In the same vein, it would be foolish to take a Porsche 911 GT3 dune jumping. The folks at Rage beg to differ and made a vehicle that they claim is as good on a racetrack as it is off-road: the Comet R (R200RT).

XCAR recently drove the Comet R to see if it really is the dual-nature beast Rage claims it is, and it didn’t disappoint. First off, it’s fast. The Comet R has the 200-horsepower, four-cylinder motor from the Kawasaki ZZR1400 motorcycle; it accelerates from 0-60 miles per hour in about 3.5 seconds, according to XCAR. Looking more like an off-road buggy than anything else, the Comet R isn’t an exercise in design, but purely in function. That is, it functions amazingly well sideways at a racetrack, and perhaps even better in an off-road environment. Just slip on some off-road wheels and tires and make some suspension adjustments, and it’ll tackle unforgiving terrain and take jumps with the ferocity of a Trophy Truck. In the UK, at least, it is also road legal, so it can be driven to and from track days without having to be towed.

See for yourself how the Comet R handles all types of terrain in the video we included below.

Continue reading Rage Comet R is a supercar for the road, dirt and sky

Rage Comet R is a supercar for the road, dirt and sky originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Aug 2013 18:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: Rage Comet R is a supercar for the road, dirt and sky”

Report: Nissan to add Rogue, Murano hybrid around 2015

Filed under: Hybrid, Crossover, Nissan

2014 Nissan Rogue Spy Shots

Except for the limited-production, Toyota-assisted Altima Hybrid, Nissan has pretty much shied away from hybrid vehicles, but that is all about to change. As a part of a plan to launch a total of 15 electrified vehicles by 2016, Nissan is launching the Pathfinder Hybrid, which goes on sale this fall, and we’ve heard in the past that the Altima will get another hybrid variant, as well. Now, Green Car Reports is confirming that the Murano and the smaller Rogue (seen above in next-gen prototype phase) will both receive hybrid powertrains.

Though riding on different platforms, both hybrid crossovers could share the system being introduced in the Pathfinder, consisting of a 2.5-liter supercharged four-cylinder engine, a 22-horsepower electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack. There is still no word on when the next-gen Murano will arrive, but the 2014 Nissan Rogue will be introduced on September 10.

Nissan to add Rogue, Murano hybrid around 2015 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Aug 2013 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Nissan to add Rogue, Murano hybrid around 2015”

Report: Judge to approve settlement of Mini CVT lawsuits

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Hatchback, Mini

BMW has agreed to settle a number of class-action lawsuits out of court. The suits stem from drivetrain issues on the 2001 to 2006 R50 Mini Cooper – in particular, its continuously variable transmission. The transmission was known to fail, often without warning on otherwise healthy and well-maintained vehicles. This wasn’t the only major issue to afflict the original BMW-era Mini models.

According to legal site Topclassactions.com, the suits alleged that BMW knowingly hid the defects in the CVT from customers while informing dealers of the issue. The first suit was filed in 2011, while four additional suits have followed. Now, BMW has reportedly settled, offering to reimburse 1,200 owners that needed repairs within eight years or 150,000 miles of their purchase. Repair prices for the transmission range from $6,000 to $9,000.

Under the agreement, BMW will also offer up to $4,100 to members of the suit that had fixes performed at a third-party shop, while owners who sold their cars at a loss due to the issues are slated to receive up to $2,000. Finally, owners who are part of the suit will be warrantied for a further eight years and 150,000 miles.

Judge to approve settlement of Mini CVT lawsuits originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Aug 2013 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Judge to approve settlement of Mini CVT lawsuits”

Report: A. Kahn owner turns down $9M offer for his Veyron’s ‘F1’ license plate

Filed under: Etc., Earnings/Financials, UK, Humor

Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4

Afzal Khan has a lot of money. This is, after all, the guy that spent $870,000 for the United Kingdom vanity plate F1. Now, as further proof of the high-end tuner’s wealth, he’s turned down a 6-million quid offer for the rare license plate. Who offers $9.3 million for a pair of rectangular pieces of metal? And… more importantly, who turns it down?

According to The Daily Mail, Khan rejected the offer, with a spokesman explaining that, “Mr. Kahn has no interest in selling F1, which is his favorite plate.” As The Mail points out, Khan’s move to snap up F1 when it went on the market in 2008 was a prudent financial move if he’s getting multi-million-pound offers for it.

F1, which spends most of its time on Khan’s Bugatti Veyron, isn’t the only rare plate in Khan’s garage – he also counts 4HRH and NO1 as part of his collection, although it doesn’t sound like either one is quite as valuable.

A. Kahn owner turns down $9M offer for his Veyron’s ‘F1’ license plate originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Aug 2013 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: A. Kahn owner turns down $9M offer for his Veyron’s ‘F1’ license plate”

Motorsports: Dutch rally duo die in WRC support event [w/video]

Filed under: Motorsports, Classics, Europe, Videos

1980 Triumph TR7 at 2013 ADAC Rallye Deutschland

Tragedy stuck this weekend at the site of the ADAC Rallye Deutschland when a driver and co-driver team from the Netherlands were killed in a crash on Saturday. The incident occurred not in the headline World Rally Championship event, but in a classic support rally.

According to reports, Rob de Vos and Marcel Benning lost control of their 1980 Triumph TR7 (a car you can see in the brief tribute video below) as they flew over the infamous Gina jump on the Arena Panzerplatte section that was once used to test tanks. The WRC cars had already passed at that point, but officials canceled the next stage that was supposed to go over the same section again due to the tragedy.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to the friends and family that de Vos and Benning leave behind.

Continue reading Dutch rally duo die in WRC support event [w/video]

Dutch rally duo die in WRC support event [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Aug 2013 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Motorsports: Dutch rally duo die in WRC support event [w/video]”

Spy Shots: VW prepping new big-boy Golf Plus for Europe

Filed under: Spy Photos, Europe, Volkswagen

Volkswagen Golf Plus Spy Shots

Volkswagen is readying a new version of the Golf Plus, the compact MPV that was last seen as part of the fifth-generation Golf range. The Plus sports a higher roof for improved headroom, with our spy shooter estimating an extra 15 centimeters (six inches) of noggin space over a comparable Golf hatchback.

The new model is expected to look more or less like the Mk VII Golf, outside of the taller overall design and subtle styling tweaks. Sharing its bones and its looks with the newest Golf means the Plus will get most of the same engines and transmissions, although we shouldn’t expect a hot version with the GTI’s powerplant or an all-wheel-drive model.

The main difference in the cabin should be a set of adjustable rear seats, allowing a bit more room and flexibility in the tallish hatchback. As is usual, don’t expect this Golf variant to cross the pond. Take a look above for our full gallery of spy shots of the new Golf Plus.

VW prepping new big-boy Golf Plus for Europe originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Aug 2013 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Spy Shots: VW prepping new big-boy Golf Plus for Europe”

Official: 2014 Subaru BRZ gets exceedingly modest price increase

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Subaru

2014 Subaru BRZ

Subaru has announced pricing for the 2014 BRZ, and with a $25,595 MSRP, it starts at just $100 more than the 2013 model. The destination charge adds $795 – a $25 increase over 2013 – bringing the total to $26,390.

Aside from the very modest price increase, the 2014 BRZ is essentially the same as its 2013 predecessor. The one notable change for 2014 is that Aha infotainment smartphone integration now comes with the standard navigation system. Subaru is one of the first automakers to include this feature, which delivers smartphone activity such as live news, podcasts and social media news feeds to drivers through the radio.

The rear-wheel-drive BRZ’s other features remain the same, and we certainly don’t have any complaints about that. It still comes with a 200-horsepower boxer engine, manufacturer-estimated fuel economy of 34 miles per gallon on the highway, 2+2 seating, and options such as dual-zone automatic climate control and heated front seats. Scroll down to get all the 2014 model year details in Subaru’s press release.

Continue reading 2014 Subaru BRZ gets exceedingly modest price increase

2014 Subaru BRZ gets exceedingly modest price increase originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Aug 2013 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Official: 2014 Subaru BRZ gets exceedingly modest price increase”

Video: How to make your car’s engine look showroom fresh

Filed under: Etc., Videos

Last time we saw Larry Kosilla of Ammo NYC and the YouTube show Drive Clean, he was initiating the resurrection of a 1966 Porsche 912. Going beyond the body, the automotive world’s Mr. Clean next lays his gloved hands and brushes on the engine bay, demonstrating how to scour the powerplants of a front-engined Corvette Z06, a mid-engined Ferrari 458 Italia and a mid-engined Ford GT. The three cars were chosen to show the challenges of a modern, plastic-covered motor, an exotic motor with lots of hard-to-reach spots and a “muscle” car that leaves everything exposed.

Kosilla breaks it all down quickly, taking about seven minutes to go through eight steps that will get your engine from dirty to disinfected. For another engaging lesson, have a watch of the video below.

Continue reading How to make your car’s engine look showroom fresh

How to make your car’s engine look showroom fresh originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Aug 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: How to make your car’s engine look showroom fresh”

Report: Tesla Model S vulnerable to hackers?

Filed under: Sedan, Safety, Technology, Tesla, Electric, Luxury

Tesla Model S could be vulnerable to hackers.

Next time you walk by a parked Tesla and its sunroof is opening and closing with nobody sitting inside or around it, you could be witnessing a hacker moment. For all of its strengths as a car, the Model S reportedly has a weak spot: the security of its API (application programming interface) authentication, according to an article in the O’Reilly Community by George Reese, executive director of cloud management at Dell. Tesla develops and uses its own API authentication protocols, which have made access to certain Model S functions too easy for hackers, Reese says – himself a Model S owner.

At question is the Tesla REST API, which is accessed via a web-based portal, usually by Model S owners with their iPhone or Android-based smartphone, to perform a variety of menial tasks and check the status of the car. The Tesla-registered e-mail and password of the car owner is used to access the API through a web portal, which creates a “token” that lasts for three months. During that period, owners access the Tesla REST API via the token without the use of their log-in information. Unfortunately, the tokens and their respective cars are stored on website databases that are all too easy to hack, Reese explains, and if a hacker gains access, “it has free access to all of that site’s cars for up to three months with no ability for the owners to do anything about it.” On top of that, there is no way to revoke access of a compromised application.

Reese says that “there’s nothing in the API that (can? should?) result in an accident if someone malicious were to gain access.” The API can check the car’s battery charge, operate climate control, operate the sunroof, identify car location, honk the horn, open the charge port, and perform other similar operations. But, he cautions, “Perhaps the scariest bit is that the API could be used to track your every move.”

At least it’s not a major hack-attack like that experienced by a Forbes reporter in a Prius. Now that’s scary!

Tesla Model S vulnerable to hackers? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Aug 2013 10:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Tesla Model S vulnerable to hackers?”