Category: Auto Industry

Video: Honda takes us through 50 years of automobiles in 60 seconds

Filed under: Japan, Videos, Honda

Honda’s wonderfully simple, fun ads are not in short supply right now. We showed you Hands, the followup to 2003’s The Cog, last week. If you haven’t had a chance to look at those two great videos, we strongly encourage you to head over that way and give them a watch.

The latest minute-long commercial is a bit more dear, though. And while it may be in Japanese, it’s still a cool look back at Honda and its car-building history.

This is also a great video if you’re a fan of odd, vintage Japanese vehicles. Honda’s T360 and a few old Civics are featured heavily, although we can’t help but notice that a few very big names are missing. Where’s the NSX or the S2000? How about the original Insight, a car so revolutionary it still has a cult following today? Honda has made some great cars, we just wish it’d show off more of them. Check out the video below.

Continue reading Honda takes us through 50 years of automobiles in 60 seconds

Honda takes us through 50 years of automobiles in 60 seconds originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Jul 2013 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Land Rover to decide soon on production Evoque Convertible

Filed under: Concept Cars, Convertible, SUV, Geneva Motor Show, Land Rover, Luxury

Land Rover Evoque Convertible

Ignoring the lessons learned from the Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet, it appears Land Rover may be about to greenlight production of the Range Rover Evoque Convertible. At least, that’s what Australian website Car Advice is saying.

The topic came up at a Land Rover executive meeting for the Asia Pacific region, with brand director John Edwards supporting the idea.

Really, it’s not hard to see the dollar signs in Land Rover’s eyes. The Evoque has been a runaway success for the Anglo-Indian brand, and is largely responsible for it cresting 300,000 units sold in 2012. But this piece also flies in the face of previous reports, arguing against a production Evoque Convertible due to a lack of public demand.

As popular as an Evoque Convertible would be with the Real Housewives set, all the scuttlebutt has been against a production for the droptop Land Rover, going back to its debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. With the 2013-2014 auto show season on the horizon, though, we can expect a definitive answer soon.

Land Rover to decide soon on production Evoque Convertible originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Jul 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Mercedes-Benz GLA crossover spied inside and out

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Spy Photos, Crossover, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Mercedes-Benz GLA crossover spy shots

When the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class entered production last summer, we were told in the accompanying press release that its platform would support the B-Class and “a further three sporty and emotive vehicles, including a coupé and an SUV.” The hidden cameras at KGP have captured the SUV part of that equation, the GLA small crossover, in the Rocky Mountains.

As best we can make out, the contours under its swirly vinyl are those of a burlier copy of the handsome A-Class, only raised off the ground. Inside is the same minimal yet well done interior we’ve seen in the A and the CLA, sales numbers having proved so far that the cabin is a hit with buyers around the world.

Speculation is that GLA powertrains will match those of its platform siblings, the base motor said to be the 2.0-liter, 200-horsepower four-cylinder and chassis options being front- and all-wheel drive. The Frankfurt Motor Show should be when the public gets the first naked look at it. The high-res gallery of spy shots above should suffice in the meantime.

Mercedes-Benz GLA crossover spied inside and out originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Jul 2013 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Long Term: 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo: June 2013

Filed under: Performance, Hatchback, Hyundai, Long-Term Garage

There are an awful lot of good reasons to get into the Hyundai Veloster family and formula. This car looks good, is loaded out with tech and offers a great deal of practicality in a small form factor. One good reason not to consider a Veloster, at least if you’re a city dweller or have primarily urban daily driving path, is the turbocharged 1.6-liter engine in the eponymous Veloster Turbo.

Two major factors kill the Veloster Turbo in terms of said city driving: turbo lag and fuel economy.

Two major factors kill the Veloster Turbo in terms of city driving: turbo lag and fuel economy.

I had our long-term Turbo for all of June and the first week of July, during which time I primarily used the car as a runabout in Ann Arbor, MI. With the exception of a few 40-ish-mile jaunts into Metro Detroit, I drove the Hyundai roughly five to ten miles at a time, with speeds that I’m sure averaged 30 miles per hour or less. This kind of driving isn’t a good recipe for high mile-per-gallon numbers, to be sure, and I netted out at about 21.6 mpg – a decent bit lower than the EPA estimate of 24 mpg in the city.

Meanwhile, I wasn’t having a riveting time whilst burning that gas (at least you don’t have to run premium). If you’ve been following the saga of this long-term car to date, you’ve read a lot about how the Turbo doesn’t feel especially hot-hatchy. There are plenty of reasons for this, but I think much of it comes down to a laggy turbo. Getting into the heart of the boost takes a really heavy foot and a low gear when initially accelerating. Worse, the rush from the turbo boost doesn’t feel especially strong once it does come on. (I don’t actually mind a bit of turbo lag, if the payout at the end is a crazy accelerative moment; see Mazdaspeed3, Mini Cooper S, etc.)

In other words: If the Veloster Turbo felt really fast, even sometimes, I’d forgive the fuel economy. As it stands, I’m quite sure the trade-off versus the standard, slow, nice handling non-turbo Veloster, at least for city drivers, is a bad one to make. That’s not even taking sticker price into account…

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2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo: June 2013 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Jul 2013 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Impala crashes into Land Cruiser… to hide from a cheetah

Filed under: SUV, Etc., Videos, Toyota

What would you do if a wild animal jumped into your vehicle through an open window during an African safari? What if said animal was an impala being chased by cheetahs? Though the scenario seems unbelievable, that’s just what happened to a group of tourists in Kruger National Park in South Africa, and it was all caught on video.

With the tour groups stopped, a motorist with a video camera handy happens to catch the unlikely sight of a herd of impalas (not that kind of Impala) jumping over the tarmac while being followed, quickly of course, by two cheetahs. The feline predators thought they had cornered one impala and were closing in for the kill when it jumped through the open window of a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado – South Africa’s version of the Lexus GX. Fortunately for the occupants of said vehicle, the cheetahs did not follow.

A short while later, one of the occupants in the Toyota fearlessly opens a door to let the poor animal out. It must have been its lucky day, because the cheetahs didn’t take pursuit. Check out the circle life get interrupted by this traffic jam in the video below.

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Impala crashes into Land Cruiser… to hide from a cheetah originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Jul 2013 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ralph Gilles responds to Dodge rumors, says brand is ‘here to stay’

Filed under: Dodge

This is why we love Ralph Gilles. While in Italy hanging out with a group of Viper Club members in Europe, the SRT boss took the time to respond to a question directed at him on Instagram in regards to the future of Dodge.

Recent reports have painted a bleak picture for Dodge, but Gilles defended Chrysler’s full-line brand by stating that the rumors are, “all rumors, Dodge is here to stay! It may get more focused going forward but not killed!” The idea of a “more focused” Dodge brand could lend some credibility to reports that the Grand Caravan and Durango are on their way out, which would leave Dodge solely as a car, or car-based, automaker.

Ralph Gilles responds to Dodge rumors, says brand is ‘here to stay’ originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Jul 2013 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official: Bentley releases official Continental GT3 details [w/video]

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Bentley, Racing

It’s been almost a year since we first laid eyes on the Bentley Continental GT3, but this race-bred Continental GT is finally ready to show off its moves. After debuting last year at the Paris Motor Show, the Continental GT3 makes its racing debut today at the Goodwood Festival of Speed before competing in the FIA Blancpain Series next year.

While Bentley released some of the car’s details last month, we now have all we need to know about this car such as its curb weight of less than 2,866 pounds, its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 packing 600 horsepower and four-way adjustable suspension dampers. The exterior of the car stays true to the design of the Continental GT but has been given a once over to improve aero, and the interior has been stripped down to the bare essentials for racing. This doesn’t mean that all luxury was thrown out the window, though, as the Continental GT3’s steering wheel, door pulls and seat are all covered in hand-stitched leather. Scroll down for the official press release as well as a video showing the car in action.

Continue reading Bentley releases official Continental GT3 details [w/video]

Bentley releases official Continental GT3 details [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Jul 2013 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Razor Crazy Cart may be the coolest kid-size drift car money can buy

Filed under: Videos, Toys/Games, Humor

It might as well be a fact that if you want to get ahead in the world of motorsports, you need to start young. And since most toddlers can’t see over the wheel or reach the pedals in an actual car, karts are the most logical option. Unfortunately, big league karts are not cheap.

Enter the Crazy Cart, from Razor. Somehow, we doubt there’s ever been a better way of teaching a small child about car control. With four corner-mounted castors and a single electrically powered wheel below the steering column, the Crazy Cart can make any pre-schooler a drifting master. That central wheel can turn 360 degrees, which blesses the Crazy Cart with sublime agility and ease of control. A tiny handbrake is also available, for even more lurid sliding.

Of course, there are concerns. One Autoblog staffer called it “a pediatrician’s nightmare,” and while it does look stable, we’d be inclined to agree. And then there’s the $400 asking price. While it’s expensive, it’s probably a lot cheaper than dropping money on a kart, only to find out that your kid isn’t all that into it. And besides, as the video shows, it can handle an adult.

In that case, we’ll take seven. Check out the video below for the full rundown of the Crazy Cart’s abilities.

Continue reading Razor Crazy Cart may be the coolest kid-size drift car money can buy

Razor Crazy Cart may be the coolest kid-size drift car money can buy originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Jul 2013 12:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2014 Mazda3

Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, Mazda, First Drives

The Cure For The Common Corolla

2014 Mazda3

I hate the Toyota Corolla. I’m not talking about the new 2014 model; I can’t yet judge a car I haven’t driven. I’m referring to the current, old-as-dirt sedan. As an appliance, I get why people buy it, but it represents everything that I, as a car enthusiast, dislike. I don’t like looking at it, I don’t like sitting in it, and I really don’t like driving it. There is absolutely no amount of emotion dialed into any part of the Corolla experience and every other vehicle in the segment is a far better choice. But still, somehow, Toyota sells ’em like hotcakes.

Thankfully, there are a lot of people who agree with me. And for folks like us, companies like Mazda exist. This small Japanese automaker places emotion and driver involvement as its top priorities when creating new products, and mostly – especially in recent years – the end results have been great. The new CX-5 crossover is a doll, to say nothing of the rakish and lovely new Mazda6 that launched earlier this year. And let’s not forget the Miata…

It’s a shame, then, that Mazda’s sales numbers have never correlated with how we enthusiasts feel about the products, though a lot of that simply has to do with the company’s weaker advertising efforts, not to mention a less robust dealer network. Mazda continues to build cars that are great to drive above all, and the automaker is slowly but surely getting its refinement issues and infotainment technologies in order. This new 2014 Mazda3 aims to offer the best of the brand’s new Skyactiv powertrain DNA, housed in a package with features and technologies that stand up to every other car in the highly competitive C segment.

It is everything the Corolla is not. And it’s fantastic.

Continue reading 2014 Mazda3

2014 Mazda3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Jul 2013 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorsports: 2013 Pikes Peak Hill Climb, Practice Day 3

Filed under: Motorsports, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Specialty, Electric, Racing

2013 Pikes Peak Hill Climb

The third practice day of the 91st Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is done. While the other classes got running time on the middle and top sections of the course, qualifying times were set on the bottom section of the course for the Open, Open Wheel, Electric, Exhibition and Vintage classes.

Everyone managed to keep it on the black stuff today, Greg Tracy setting the fastest time ahead of Hiroshi Masuoka, both men driving the Mitsubishi MiEV Evolution II four-wheel-drive prototype. Not even half a second behind Masuoka came Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima in his Monster Sport E-Runner, who has taken about 18 seconds off his time since the first practice day. Rod Millen was the fourth fastest on the day in his Toyota TMG EV POO2.

Topping the Open Wheel class was Clint Vahsholtz, followed by Donner Billingsley, Andy Figueroa and Rodney O’Maley. The only driver in that class not to be given a time today was Dan Novembre. Kenshiro Gushi took the Exhibition class today as his Lexus IS F CCS-R made it up the mountain in 4:27.248, followed by Sage Marie in the Honda CR-Z at 5:19.591. Simon Pagenaud and his Honda Odyssey weren’t classified.

Layne Schranz nabbed the top time for Pikes Peak Open runners in his 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Randy Schranz behind him in his Shelby Cobra, Jeff MacPherson right behind in his Porsche 914-8. The old-timers in the Vintage division were lead by Christopher Lennon in a 1973 Porsche 911 RSR, Ralf Christensson two seconds behind him in a 1967 Ford Fastback GT350. The final times and running order will be released after tomorrow’s qualifying, at about 5 pm Mountain time. As of now, five cars have dropped out – in some cases literally – of the original 69-car field, and 83 bikes remain of the 86 entrants.

Further up the mountain the Time Attack and Unlimited runners were practicing in the middle section of the course. Paul Dallenbach led the Time Attack field in Rhys Millen’s Hyundai Genesis Coupe from last year with a time of 2:33, then came the two Porsches of Jeff Zwart at 2:38 and David Donner at 2:40

At the top of the field, the Sébastien Loeb again led the timesheets with a 2:12, and was again followed by Romain Dumas at 2:26. Third place went to Dayraut in the monster Mini at 2:29.

Rhys Millen hasn’t got a mention yet because he didn’t run today. His Hyundai PM580T had an engine problem last night and the team decided to put in a brand new motor. They only finished doing that this morning while the others were running, then spent the day testing at an oval/road course near Colorado Springs to make sure everything’s good to go for tomorrow. He’ll be back on the mountain tomorrow, and we’ll be back with a report then.

Tomorrow’s practice will have all of the bike divisions qualifying on the bottom of the course while the other classes get their settings dialed in for race day on Sunday. To watch or listen to the race live on Sunday, June 30, Red Bull TV will be streaming the entire event here, and you can listen on KRDO NewsRadio 105.5 FM and 1240 AM. If you insist on total coverage, feel free to follow the Pikes Peak Facebook and Twitter pages. For live timing and results, go here. If you lose all those links, just go to the Pikes Peak site and click the Follow Live tab at the top of the page. The live stream on Red Bull TV starts at 7 am Mountain time (6 am PST / 9 am EST), the green-flag party kicks off at 8 am Mountain Time.

2013 Pikes Peak Hill Climb, Practice Day 3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Jun 2013 21:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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