Tag: cars

Video: European cars on ice in snowy slow-motion plow pileup

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Safety, Videos

European skating rink – Click above to watch the video after the jump

Cars keep getting more advanced all the time. Traction control, anti-lock brakes, stability management… all in an effort to combat the laws of physics in adverse situations. But there are some conditions where no matter what you have at your disposal – winter tires, all-wheel drive, even a snow plow – there’s just no traction to be had. And then it gets ugly.

With record snow storms sweeping across Europe over the past couple of weeks, one camera-toting bystander, helpless to stop the icy car-carnage unfolding before him, filmed it for posterity, and set it to some comically serene music while he was at it. The footage after the jump is perfectly safe for the workplace, but the obscenities you’ll likely to spurt out in disbelief while watching it might not be. Thanks to everyone for the tips.

[Source: YouTube]

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Video: European cars on ice in snowy slow-motion plow pileup originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 26 Dec 2010 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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KBB reveals 20 most researched cars of 2010

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc.

Honda Accord

KBB.com names its 20 Most-Researched vehicles for 2010 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Kelly Blue Book has compiled a list of the most researched new vehicles for 2010, as well as brands that hold the greatest market share of interest. The Honda Accord, Civic and Toyota Camry claim the top three spots — not a surprise if you’ve been reading this list the last few years. Since 2004, the same three vehicles have garnered the most attention at KBB.com.

While it’s not a surprise to see those three, it’s a nice change of pace for a few newcomers to the list. The Hyundai Sonata was 29th overall last year, but has risen 24 spots to claim the title of fifth most-researched vehicle for 2010. Not everyone rose this year, of course. Two notable vehicles, the Toyota Prius and Corolla, dropped a few spots compared to 2009.

It’s not all bad news for Toyota, however, because KBB.com also takes a look at each brand’s market share of interest among new car buyers. Toyota leads the way at 13.4 percent, with Honda, Ford, Chevrolet and Nissan rounding out the top five in that order.

Here’s how the Top 20 Most-Researched Vehicles for 2010 breaks down:

1. Honda Accord
2. Honda Civic
3. Toyota Camry
4. Honda CR-V
5. Hyundai Sonata
6. Nissan Altima
7. Honda Pilot
8. Ford Mustang
9. Toyota Highlander
10. Toyota RAV4
11. Toyota Sienna
12. Honda Odyssey
13. Chevrolet Equinox
14. Toyota Corolla
15. Ford Fusion
16. Ford Escape
17. Toyota Prius
18. BMW 3 Series
19. Chevrolet Camaro
20. Volkswagen Jetta

Be sure to click past the jump to read the full release from Kelley Blue Book.

Gallery: Kelley Blue Book’s Top 20 Most-Researched Vehicles for 2010

[Source: KBB.com]

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KBB reveals 20 most researched cars of 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 26 Dec 2010 17:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Smithsonian asks public to vote on cars for American History display

Filed under: Classics, Government/Legal

Smithsonian

The recently renovated National Museum of American History – Click above to cast your vote

The Smithsonian Institution’s collection of treasures extends far beyond what’s actually on display in its D.C. museums. Ranging from ancient artifacts to modern marvels, this bit is likely to interest automotive enthusiasts more than any other:

The National Museum of American History is preparing to put two of the most historically significant American automobiles on display from its archives. But instead of letting the curators pick the cars, they’re asking the public to vote in a campaign it paradoxically calls “Race to the Museum.”

The candidates include a 1903 Oldsmobile Curved Dash Runabout (the first car built on an assembly line in the U.S., well before the Ford Model T); an 1880 steam-powered trike built in Massachusetts; an 1894 Blazer (the first American-made automobile to hit New York City, built by a Tiffany-trained watchmaker); a 1948 Tucker (pioneering many advanced safety features and the subject of the 1988 Jeff Bridges film); a 1929 Miller supercharged Indy race car, which set a 143 mph speed record and prompted Detroit to press race organizers to ban superchargers; a 1953 Glasspar fiberglass sports car and two modern examples of green propulsion from General Motors: the EV1 and the 1987 Sunraycer solar-powered prototype.

So far the Tucker is in the lead, with the Miller and the Olds in a close race for the second slot. Follow the link to get your vote in before January 11, 2011.

[Source: Smithsonian via The Detroit News]

Smithsonian asks public to vote on cars for American History display originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 26 Dec 2010 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Playboy‘s 2011 Cars of the Year hit the casting couch

Filed under: Performance, Etc., Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

2011 Playboy Car of the Year - Mercedes Benz SLS AMG

Are the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG’s gullwing doors just giant bunny ears? – Click above for high-res image gallery

We all know the story, and we’ve all used the line: we read Playboy for the articles. Somehow no one ever takes us seriously, but the fact of the matter is that Playboy is a men’s magazine with a wide readership and articles focusing on everything guys want to read about: sex, sports, politics and yes, even cars.

While you might think that with so many Bunnies hopping around the Mansion, the Volkswagen Rabbit would be the car of choice for Heff and company, they’ve actually put together their own comprehensive best-of selections again for 2011. The winner of the coveted Playboy Car of the Year? None other than the 2011 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG seen above. You can check out the other award winners by clicking through the perfectly-safe-for-work gallery below. Think they’ve chosen wisely? Share your thoughts in our Comments section.

Gallery: Playboy’s 2011 Cars of the Year

Car of the Year: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMGBest Hybrid: Honda CR-ZBest Convertible: Porsche Boxster SpyderBest Sports Coupe: Cadillac CTS-VBest Bang for the Buck: Mazda 2

[Source: Playboy]

Playboy‘s 2011 Cars of the Year hit the casting couch originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fiat 500 art cars created in Miami at Exhibitalia

Filed under: Etc., Hatchback, Fiat, Design/Style

Fiat Exhibitalia art car

Fiat 500 Art Basel art cars – click above for high-res image gallery

We wouldn’t have taken something like the Art Basel festival in Miami Beach as a typical showcase for automobiles, but after Tesla rolled out its art car and Maybach spearheaded its sculpture initiative there, Fiat became the third automaker to strut its stuff at the festival among the 2,000 artists from around the world.

Fiat’s display took place at the four-day Exhibitalia event, where several renowned artists and two student teams from the University of Miami used its tiny 500 as their “inspiration and canvas” in the creation of their works. Some created pieces inspired by the Cinquecento, some used body panels, and one even used the entire vehicle, transforming it into an art car on par with anything BMW could throw at it. Check it out in the gallery below and the press release after the jump.

Gallery: Fiat 500 art cars at Exhibitalia

[Source: Fiat]

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Fiat 500 art cars created in Miami at Exhibitalia originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 18 Dec 2010 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Periodic Table of Sports Cars according to Car and Driver

Filed under: Etc., Humor

So many sports cars, so little time. If only someone would organize them into one succinct chart, categorizing them according to common properties and laying them out in an authoritative graph. Wait, Car and Driver is someone, right?

The geeks over at C/D have created a pseudo-scientific chart modeled on Mendeleev’s periodic table of elements. C/D‘s Periodic Table of Sports Cars covers everything from the Mazda Miata to the Bentley Speed Six, and just about everything in between. Best of all, they’ve made it available in a downloadable PDF you can print out and hang in your locker, garage, bedroom… wherever. It’s science! Take a look over the layout and let ’em know what they got right and what they missed.

[Source: Car and Driver]

The Periodic Table of Sports Cars according to Car and Driver originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Nissan, Mitsubishi will work together on small, possibly electric, cars

Filed under: Mitsubishi, Nissan, Electric

Following reports that Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) will open a new, efficient global small car plant in Thailand, rumors that MMC and Nissan are talking about a 50-50 joint company in 2011 are a lot more interesting. Automotive News is reporting that the two Japanese automakers could bring a small car to market together in 2012 and – here’s where it gets good – they might also work together on electric vehicles. Mitsubishi has been making the Mitsubishi iMiEV for years and Nissan just delivered its first Leaf. The two automakers also participate in a joint car-sharing program in Kyoto, Japan.

According to a statement from Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn, no details have been decided, but an analyst at a consulting company in Tokyo told AN, “The alliance of the two automakers seems to be a good one as we can expect more cooperation in electric vehicles going forward.” Ghosn’s statement said the partnership, “is important for Nissan as it supports our expansion in emerging markets, meets immediate capacity needs overseas and enables us to grow our minicar business in Japan.”

Mitsubishi and Nissan already work together on some vehicles, like the Mitsubishi Lancer Cargo (made by Nissan) and the Minicab, Town Box, eKWagon and Pajero Mini models (built by Mitsubishi for Nissan).

[Sources: Automotive News – sub. req., Green Car Reports]

Report: Nissan, Mitsubishi will work together on small, possibly electric, cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen recalling nearly 380,000 cars over fire risk

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Wagon, Recalls, Safety, Hatchback, Volkswagen

2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI – Click above for high-res image gallery

Volkswagen AG has just issued a recall of nearly 380,000 cars due to the potential for fuel leaks which could lead to a fire. According to The Detroit News, A total of 266,936 Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Golf and Rabbit models from the 2007 to 2009 model years are affected, as well as an additional 110,350 New Beetle models (both hardtop and convertible).

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued an official recall bulletin, stating:

“The Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Golf and Rabbit vehicles may have a small plastic tab located on the windshield washer fluid reservoir that may chafe against an underhood fuel supply line. The New Beetle and the New Beetle Convertible vehicles may have a fastening clamp on a hydraulic hose of the power steering system that may be located in an improper position which could cause chafing against an underhood fuel supply line.”

In both instances, chafing could result in a fuel leak, which in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.

NHTSA states that dealerships will either remove the plastic tab from the windshield washer fluid reservoir or, in the case of the New Beetles, inspect the position of the fastening clamp. Either way, the fix won’t cost owners a thing, and the recall is expected to ramp up by the end of January.

Gallery: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI

[Sources: The Detroit News, NHTSA]

Volkswagen recalling nearly 380,000 cars over fire risk originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Senate unanimously rules in favor of noisy hybrids, electric cars

Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Safety, Electric

Regardless of whether or not there’s an actual need for pedestrian warning systems for hybrid and electric vehicles, the U.S. Senate has voted unanimously to approve a measure that would make the noise-adding setup standard on all vehicles that can operate – even if just momentarily – without the burble of an engine.

The measure, called the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010 and backed by Democratic Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, aims to establish standards for alerting pedestrians of the possible danger of an approaching vehicle that moves in near silence. With the Senate voting in favor of the bill, it will now head off to the House of Representatives, where it’s expected to pass with ease.

[Source: Green Car Advisor]

Senate unanimously rules in favor of noisy hybrids, electric cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Police using Twitter to track down stolen cars

Filed under: Etc., Technology

Police using Twitter

Police in Seattle have turned to social media in an effort to help recover stolen vehicles. By sending out a Tweet that describes the liberated vehicle, authorities are hoping someone in the network of followers will spot it and report the vehicle’s location. The Twitter account being used by the SPD goes by the handle @GetYourCarBack and sends out a message listing the year, make, model and license plate of the stolen vehicle.

Every little bit helps and it’s always interesting to see how companies or organizations adopt new uses for technology. Besides the usefulness of the feed, it’s also quite interesting to see what is getting stolen in the Seattle area. We spy lots of Hondas, but also a few scooters and someones Ford F-350 pickup.

[Source: Social Car News]

Police using Twitter to track down stolen cars originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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