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Video: Hinson Motorsports releases own official vid of 230-mph twin-turbo Corvette crash

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Chevrolet, Racing

Hinson Motorsports 2011 Texas Mile crash

Hinson Motorsports crash at the 2011 Texas Mile – Click above to view video after the jump

Over the weekend, we showed you a horrifying series pf pictures from Hinson Motorsports’ 230-mile-per-hour crash at the Texas Mile. The tuner’s twin-turbo Chevrolet Corvette Z06 was trying to break its own 224-mph standing-mile record for Corvettes when something went badly awry.

Even now, nobody’s quite sure what caused the nearly 2,000-horsepower Vette to go airborne, but it did, rolling several times before coming to rest on its wheels. The new video after the jump offers multiple perspectives on the crash as it happened, and it looks much more violent in the videos than it did in the earlier video footage and stills we saw.

Once again, the driver somehow managed to walk away from the crash unharmed, and Hinson has promised to come back with another entry in the Fall.

[Source: Hinson Motorsports via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Hinson Motorsports releases own official vid of 230-mph twin-turbo Corvette crash

Video: Hinson Motorsports releases own official vid of 230-mph twin-turbo Corvette crash originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: BMW releases official M5 flick

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Videos, BMW, Luxury

BMW M5 Teaser Video

BMW M5 teaser video – Click above to watch video after the jump

BMW just can’t seem to help itself when it comes to sharing frosty videos of the next-generation M5 undergoing winter testing. The German automaker has released this second clip to accompany the first, complete with plenty of shots of the muscle-bound sedan getting sideways on the powder. We’re a little handicapped by the fact that we don’t speak German, but that certainly didn’t stop us from enjoying watching the big four door do what it does best on the white stuff.

We still can’t help but feel a pang of remorse for the loss of the naturally-aspirated V10 that powers the current M5, but from what we hear, the new twin-turbo V8 will give us plenty to sing about. Unfortunately, rumor has it that buyers won’t be able to pick up their next-gen M5 with a manual transmission. Still, we’ve got our fingers crossed that BMW will still offer a third pedal in the meanest of the fives. After all, if American buyers can take home the new 6 Series with a row-your-own gearbox, a manual transmission option shouldn’t be too much of a stretch for the M5. Hit the jump to check out the video for yourself.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: BMW releases official M5 flick

Video: BMW releases official M5 flick originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Morgan Threewheeler gets official [w/video]

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Etc., Europe, Motorcycle, UK

Morgan Three Wheeler

Morgan Threewheeler – Click above for high-res image gallery

Morgan wants us all to know that we can take our four wheels and go play somewhere else. The automaker has officially yanked the sheets back on its ridiculously awesome Threewheeler for the first time. This machine is powered by a fuel-injected, 115-horsepower V-Twin engine mated to a Mazda five-speed gearbox, allowing Morgan to serve up hop-in-and-drive convenience while still maintaining the aesthetic of the company’s old three-wheel design. The tubular chassis remains exposed in some places and the company says that there’s just enough room for a driver, a co-pilot and bit of gear.

We’re in love.

Power is shuffled to the rear wheel via a V-belt, and Morgan says that the sole aim of the Threewheeler is to make driving fun once again. We’ve got to think that improving the company’s average CO2 emissions doesn’t hurt the vehicle’s case, either.

British buyers will be able to lay down a mere £25,000 (about $40,000 USD, based on current exchange rates) before taxes for the privilege of ownership, and bespoke options like a leather interior, custom paint and unique graphics are all available, as well. Hit the jump for the full press release as well as a video teaser of the vehicle.

Gallery: Morgan Three Wheeler

[Source: Morgan]

Continue reading Morgan Threewheeler gets official [w/video]

Morgan Threewheeler gets official [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: Heidfeld to fill Kubica’s seat at Lotus Renault GP

Filed under: Motorsports, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Lotus, Renault

Nick Heidfeld

Filling the proverbial shoes of Robert Kubica is no easy task. The grand prix winner – one of only 102 in history – is the first Polish driver to make it in Formula One, and he is rated as one of the best in the business. Fill his space, though, is exactly what Renault has had to do after Kubica’s unfortunate crash in an Italian rally left him severely – if not critically – injured. But if anyone’s up to the task, it’s Nick Heidfeld.

The two were former teammates for several years at Sauber, and for his part, Heidfeld has finished more races than any other driver on or off the grid. He’s also become the de facto go-to guy for outfits who need an experienced driver to step in post-haste, having been selected by Pirelli to test their new F1 tires and then brought back to Sauber when Pedro de la Rosa wasn’t working out last season.

Having tested Heidfeld at its recent Jerez session, the Lotus Renault GP team has announced that they’ve selected the German driver to take Kubica’s place until he’s able to return to racing. Heidfeld’s selection wins out over Bruno Senna and Romain Grosjean, both of which also have race experience (albeit considerably less) and are contracted members of the team’s test-driver roster.

After stints at Prost, Sauber, Jordan and Williams – to say nothing of McLaren and Mercedes GP where he’s served as a test driver – Renault will make the fifth team for which Heidfeld will now have driven over the course of the eleven consecutive years he’s now been on the grid since his debut at the 2000 Australian Grand Prix. His best result to date was the fifth place finish he scored at Sauber in the 2007 Championship and his eight second-place grand prix finishes. Follow the jump for the official announcement.

[Source: Renault]

Continue reading Officially Official: Heidfeld to fill Kubica’s seat at Lotus Renault GP

Officially Official: Heidfeld to fill Kubica’s seat at Lotus Renault GP originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: 2012 Buick Regal eAssist will get 26/37 mpg

Filed under: Chicago Auto Show, Hybrid, Sedan, Buick, GM

2012 Buick Regal eAssist

2012 Buick Regal eAssist – Click above for high-res image gallery

When General Motors debuted the 2012 Buick LaCrosse with eAssist technology at the Los Angeles Auto Show last year, the automaker told us that this new fuel-saving feature would quickly spread across many other models in its portfolio. Now, GM has taken the wraps off of the eAssist-equipped 2012 Buick Regal, which makes its official public debut at the Chicago Auto Show this week.

Most significantly, the addition of eAssist to the Regal’s 2.4-liter inline-four powertrain means that the sedan is now capable of achieving 26 miles per gallon in the city and 37 mpg on the highway. Like the LaCrosse, the Regal eAssist uses a small, 15-horsepower electric motor to give assistance during acceleration, and when combined with things like regenerative braking and automatic start/stop, it means a substantial increase in fuel economy. It’s not exactly Ford Fusion Hybrid impressive, but still quite good when you consider that the standard Regal only musters up 19/30 mpg ratings.

Unlike the larger LaCrosse, eAssist will not be the base powertrain for 2012 Regals. Buick has positioned the Regal eAssist to be part of larger family, which includes the Regal Turbo and upcoming GS. Model-specific changes over the base Regal include things like lightweight 17-inch alloy wheels (smaller than the standard Regal’s 18-inch set), an eco mode for the air conditioning system, an eco gauge on the instrument panel and a powerflow readout in the seven-inch infotainment screen.

We’ll be seeing the 2012 Regal eAssist live in Chicago this week, so stay tuned for more information. In the meantime, follow the jump to read GM’s official press release, and see the new electrified Regal for yourself in the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: 2012 Buick Regal eAssist

2012 Buick Regal eAssist

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading Officially Official: 2012 Buick Regal eAssist will get 26/37 mpg

Officially Official: 2012 Buick Regal eAssist will get 26/37 mpg originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 01:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW, PSA make hooking up on hybrids official

Filed under: Hybrid, Etc., Europe, Plants/Manufacturing, BMW, Mini, Peugeot, Citroën, Electric

Mini E

BMW and PSA Peugeot Citroen have officially hopped into bed together to collaborate on all of the systems and hardware that goes into crafting a hybrid drivetrain, and the two have been so kind as to let us all in on what they’re planning. It’s no shock that the two companies will partner up on everything from battery packs and generators to software and chargers, but BMW has revealed that the main goal of the corporate tie up is to build an open European hybrid platform to help give all Euro automakers a little bit of structure and an edge in the looming electrified fray.

The joint venture is expected to get under way in the second quarter of 2011 barring no hiccups from legislators, and BMW says that the first products to make use of the technology developed by the partnership are likely to hit the road in 2014 at the earliest. According to Motoring File, the very first vehicles to carry the new-age hybrid gear under its hood will likely be the Mini Countryman or a Countryman-based model. Hit the jump for the full press release.

[Sources: BMW, Motoring File]

Continue reading BMW, PSA make hooking up on hybrids official

BMW, PSA make hooking up on hybrids official originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Feb 2011 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG details released

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG – Click above for high-res image gallery

Mercedes-Benz has finally released official details on the 2012 C63 AMG. Buyers can expect to be met with the same 451-horsepower 6.3-liter V8 under the hood, though an optional AMG Development Package can crank that figure all the way up to 481 ponies. Bolted behind that miracle mill is the company’s seven-speed AMG Speedshift gearbox, though the transmission now comes with new mapping to squeeze as much efficiency as possible from the drivetrain. Mercedes-Benz calls the mode “controlled efficiency,” and along with a new, more efficient power steering pump, the company says that the 2012 C63 AMG will boast a 10 percent nudge in fuel economy over its predecessor.

EPA figures are still pending, but Mercedes-Benz says that the sedan will clip off the 0-60 dash in 4.3 seconds with the optional performance kit. With acceleration like that, who needs fuel economy?

The Silver Arrow has also been kind enough to include a handful of aesthetic tweaks, including a redesigned grille, lower apron and daytime running lights that were heavily influenced by the company’s SLS AMG. Inside, a new dash and LCD screen dominate the conversation, though a new three-spoke tiller is also part of the package. Look for the 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG to touch down in the United States this fall. Hit the jump for the full press blast.

Gallery: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

[Source: Mercedes-Benz]

Continue reading Official 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG details released

Official 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG details released originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zipcar gets Toyota Prius plug-ins ahead of the car’s official launch

Filed under: Hybrid, Hatchback, Toyota, Electric

Zipcar Toyota Prius PHEV

Want some data sharing with your car sharing? On Thursday, Zipcar added eight Toyota Prius plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) to its car-sharing fleet. The plug-in Priuses, which are not available for purchase until 2012, will be accessible to Zipcar members in Boston, MA, Cambridge, MA, San Francisco, CA, and Portland, OR. Zipcar’s newest additions are part of a broad pilot program aimed at assisting Toyota in obtaining real-world data prior to the plug-ins’ 2012 launch. On the flip side, Zipcar hopes to analyze the use of plug-in hybrids and assess the potential for a broader fleet rollout.

Back in 2009, Zipcar teamed up with the city of San Francisco to test a plug-in Prius. That car, which utilized a plug-in conversion kit provided by A123 Systems, offered up to 40 miles of pure electric range. The battery-only range of Toyota’s plug-in Prius is limited to 13 miles, but Scott Griffith, Zipcar’s chief executive officer, points out that “approximately one-third of our reservations are made for trips equaling less than 13 miles,” which implies that those jaunts could be made in a Prius PHEV without using a drop of gas, as long as there’s enough time to rechage between rentals.

Like all of the other hybrids in Zipcar’s fleet, the plug-in Prius can only be reserved by the hour, with sixty minutes of seat time costing approximately $7.00.

[Source: Zipcar]

Continue reading Zipcar gets Toyota Prius plug-ins ahead of the car’s official launch

Zipcar gets Toyota Prius plug-ins ahead of the car’s official launch originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Officially Official: BMW announces 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo for U.S.

Filed under: BMW

BMW 2.0-liter Turbo

BMW’s four-cylinder turbocharged engine – Click above for high-res image gallery

BMW has been teasing us with little factoids here and there about its new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and we finally have official confirmation that it will, in fact, be coming to the United States later this year.

This new four-cylinder engine uses the same twin-scroll turbo technology found in the larger N55 3.0-liter engine. Maximum power is rated at 240 horsepower at 5,000 rpm, and peak torque – all 260 pound-feet of it – is delivered at 1,250 rpm. By switching to a smaller-displacement, turbocharged, direct-injected engine, we can expect that cars with this new 2.0-liter four will get a healthy bump in fuel economy over the current six-cylinder models.

BMW has yet to point out which models will be getting the new 2.0-liter turbo, but since the automaker specifically mentions that it offers more power and torque than the current naturally aspirated 3.0-liter inline-six, we wouldn’t be shocked to learn that all cars with a 28i or 30i at the end of the name will now be powered by this four-pot mill. Earlier reports have suggested that the Z4 sDrive30i will now use four-cylinder power, and we’re betting both the 1 and 3 Series, as well as X1, will get the turbo-four treatment. Follow the jump for the official press release.

Gallery: BMW X1 2.0 Turbocharged Four Cylinder

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading Officially Official: BMW announces 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo for U.S.

Officially Official: BMW announces 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo for U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Official 2012 Fiat 500 fuel economy numbers fall short of 40 mpg

Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, Fiat

2012 Fiat 500

2012 Fiat 500 – Click above for high-res image gallery

2011 marks the official return of Fiat here in the United States, with the adorable little 500 hitting dealerships in the coming weeks. With Fiat’s MultiAir 1.4-liter engine under the hood, you’d be right to expect top-notch fuel economy numbers. And while the 500’s EPA ratings of 30 miles per gallon in the city and 38 mpg on the highway aren’t bad, it’s not exactly what we were hoping for.

For comparison, consider the fact that much larger C-segment entries like the Hyundai Elantra, Ford Focus and Chevrolet Cruze are all capable of achieving 40 mpg or higher (granted, you have to spec certain transmissions and option packages on the latter two in order to achieve it). What’s more, the 30/38 mpg rating on the Fiat 500 is only with the five-speed manual transmission. Cars equipped with the six-speed self-shifter will only achieve 27/34 mpg. Ouch.

Still, with prices starting at $15,995 for the entry-level Pop model, we don’t think Fiat will have too much trouble moving 500s out of showrooms. Besides, the majority of people purchasing the Fiat 500 will be doing so because of its style rather than its frugality.

Gallery: 2012 Fiat 500

2012 Fiat 500

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

Official 2012 Fiat 500 fuel economy numbers fall short of 40 mpg originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Jan 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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