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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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Nissan Leaf wins 2011 European Car of the Year

Filed under: Europe, Hatchback, Nissan, Electric

nissan leaf europe car of the year

2011 Nissan Leaf – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Nissan Leaf is a technological leap in that it is a mass-produced electric vehicle with a range of up to 100 miles on a single charge. Unfortunately for Nissan, its quirky EV hit the market at the same time as the prize-hungry Chevy Volt, which has already taken home the North American Car of the Year and Motor Trend COTY awards.

But while the Volt has taken the hardware here in the United States, the Leaf can now sport its own prestigious award: the 2011 European Car Of The Year. The 58 voters gave the Leaf the nod over more conventional offerings like the Volvo S60 and the Opel Meriva. Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn is quick to point out the fact that the Leaf is the first EV to win the Europe COTY award, but he also stresses that the Leaf “is an appealing, competitive car, with no compromise on style, features, safety, performance or handling.” Hit the jump to read over Nissan’s brag-tastic press release.

Gallery: 2011 Nissan Leaf: First Drive

[Source: Nissan]

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Nissan Leaf wins 2011 European Car of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Daihatsu leaving European market

More than any other, two carmaking giants sit at the top of the industry: Toyota and General Motors. But while GM sells under a (shrinking but still) expansive range of brands, the Toyota Motor Corporation sells most of its vehicles under its own name. That doesn’t mean that Toyota, however, doesn’t have its own portfolio of subsidiaries. Here in the United States we have the youth-oriented Scion division, while Lexus handles its upscale offerings, and overseas there’s Daihatsu.

The budget brand offers a range of small cars under its own name; most are hatchbacks, but there’s also the Copen roadster and even a rebadged Camry called the Altis. You may have come across some of their offerings while traveling overseas, particularly in Europe, but that last part is about to come to an end, according to reports.

Word from across the pond is that Toyota plans to withdraw Daihatsu from the European market altogether. The move would reportedly take effect in 2013, and if it comes to pass, would follow similar withdrawals from the North American (1992) and Australian (2006) markets. Thanks for the tip, William!

[Source: Autohaus]

Report: Daihatsu leaving European market originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 16 Jan 2011 12:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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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Chrysler 200 to spawn European Lancia model?

Filed under: Sedan, Europe, Chrysler, Fiat, Rumormill, Lancia

2011 Chrysler 200 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Rumor has it that Fiat is looking to push the Chrysler 200 into a handful of markets around the globe. According to Automotive News, the Italian automaker has its sight set on reworking the car into Lancia and introducing it in mainland Europe. At the same time, the standard Chrysler 200 may debut in the UK and Ireland. Interestingly enough, Fiat isn’t mulling the move because it thinks that the 200 can go head to head with the rest of the small car. Instead, the company is hoping to bolster its fleet sales in various European markets.

That’s not to say that the deal is set in stone at this point. The Chrysler 200 has a major chink in its armor when it comes to doing battle in Europe – it doesn’t come with a diesel option. With only two gasoline engine options, Fiat would have to source its own oil-burning powerplant to make the ploy work. Throw in the fact that the car is set to be replaced in three years and the likelihood of seeing the 200 in Europe is slimmer yet. Still, the company says that it’s currently looking at the numbers to see if there’s a solid business case for the move.

Gallery: 2011 Chrysler 200