Tag: test

Florida cancels online learner’s permit test after finding over 50% can’t pass test in real life [w/video]

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety, Videos

Person waiting in line at the DMV

No more online Learner’s Permit option for Florida drivers – Click above to watch video after the jump

If you live in Florida and are getting ready to take the test to get you’re learner’s permit, you better head to Google Maps and find the location of the nearest DMV. For the past decade, potential new drivers had the option of taking their permit test online. This practice just came to a screeching halt when they found that a large percentage of drivers passing the online test failed the in-person version. How large? Over 50 percent.

Emotions are predictably mixed, but we’re all for fine-tuning a program that gives people the privilege of piloting two-ton murder mobiles. Having smarter drivers on the road leads to a better motoring experience for all of us. It’s even plausible that a more knowledgeable pool of drivers could lead to fewer accidents and reduced insurance premiums.

Hop the jump to view My Fox Orlando’s segment on the matter.

[Source: My Fox Orlando]

Continue reading Florida cancels online learner’s permit test after finding over 50% can’t pass test in real life [w/video]

Florida cancels online learner’s permit test after finding over 50% can’t pass test in real life [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Chevrolet Volt is out there on the test drive circuit, too

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Chevrolet, Event Alert

Chevrolet Volt

Chevy Volt Tour hits L.A. Fashion Weekend – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Nissan Leaf is on a nationwide tour to spread the electric gospel, and it turns out the Chevrolet Volt is also making a national round to pitch its “More Car than Electric” mantra. We swung by its L.A. stop more interested in the L.A. Fashion Weekend show that was going on behind the test drives. This particular blogger had never been in the Volt and hadn’t thought much of it beyond the three years of headlines it’s been making – especially because our tastes tend more toward words like Gumpert Apollo and Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport and Aston Martin DBS Carbon Black and Lamborghini Murciélago.. and Fisker Karma.

But then we drove it. Twice. Once with the engine juicing the battery, once on battery power alone. They were short drives, just around a few blocks. And, um, we hate to go all Volt homer with this, but we have no choice: it was fantastic. As coincidence would have it, we rocked up to the event in a Honda Insight and discovered that the Volt is at the opposite, highly enjoyable pole of hybrid driving. We characterized it as “the best hybrid experience we’ve ever had.”

Of course, we can’t pass judgment on the car as a complete proposition because we had just a moment of seat time. Yet it was long enough to know that we’re going to get in one again as soon as we get the chance. And it was long enough for us to recommend that if the Volt tour comes your way and you’re into cars at all, then take our advice: drive it. For dates and cities, have a look at the info after the jump.

Gallery: Chevy Volt tour in LA

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading The Chevrolet Volt is out there on the test drive circuit, too

The Chevrolet Volt is out there on the test drive circuit, too originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 24 Oct 2010 14:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Want to test drive a Nissan Leaf? Live in Southern California?

Filed under: Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Hatchback, Nissan, Event Alert, Electric

2011 Nissan Leaf

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

Nissan is running around the country to promote its all-electric Leaf. The Drive Electric tour has already had two stops in California – the AltCar Expo in Santa Monica and the Orange County Auto Show in Anaheim – and a third one is planned for this coming weekend. SoCal residents, this is your opportunity to get behind the wheel of a 2011 Nissan Leaf and see what it’s like to drive a full-size electric vehicle.

The San Diego stop of the Drive Electric tour is located at the NTC Promenade. The event kicks off today and will be open from 9:00 AM until 6:00 PM. The EVs will be in San Diego through Sunday, October 17th.

Interested in attending this weekend’s EV fun? Head over to DriveNissanLeaf.com and register. If you don’t live in Southern California but want to the chance to drive a Leaf, take a look at the schedule to see if the Drive Electric tour is coming to a town near you.

Gallery: 2011 Nissan Leaf: First Drive

Photos copyright (C)2010 Damon Lavrinc / AOL

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Want to test drive a Nissan Leaf? Live in Southern California?

Want to test drive a Nissan Leaf? Live in Southern California? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mitsubishi to offer remote-control test drives of real Outlander Sport over the Internet [w/video]

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Marketing/Advertising, Technology, Videos, Crossover, Mitsubishi

2011 Mitsubishi Outlander R/C

Look Ma, no driver! – Click above to watch the video after the jump

Mitsubishi wants people to take notice of its 2011 Outlander Sport. There will be traditional print and television ad campaigns, but the automaker is also exploring new ways of reaching new car buyers. Through its creative agency 180 LA, Mitsubishi plans to put a bunch of car shoppers behind the wheel of the new crossover. Not literally, but virtually.

The automaker is rolling out its Mitsubishi Live Drive campaign that puts drivers behind the wheel of an actual Outlander Sport. They won’t be sitting in the vehicle but instead they’ll be in front of a computer. The CUV will be controlled remotely via users on the Internet. While we don’t want to be anywhere near the car when this is happening, it’s certainly a novel re-imagining of the test drive concept.

The Mitsubishi Live Drive event kicks off November 1, 2010 and runs through November 10. If you’re interested in testing out your computer driving skills, you can sign up starting October 15 at OutlanderSport.com. In the meantime, you can catch a sneak peak at what’s in store by viewing the video and official press release after the jump. Thanks to everyone for the tips!

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

Photos by Damon Lavrinc / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Sources: Mitsubishi, AdWeek, YouTube]

Continue reading Mitsubishi to offer remote-control test drives of real Outlander Sport over the Internet [w/video]

Mitsubishi to offer remote-control test drives of real Outlander Sport over the Internet [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audio engineer lists top 10 songs to test a car stereo

Filed under: Etc., Technology, GM

Bang & Olufson speaker in Audi A8

Music and driving, like ranch dressing and fries, are two things that go great together. When a vehicle is equipped with a good audio system, it helps complete a journey that starts when you twist the key and ends when you arrive at your destination whistling the song you just listened to.

In order to achieve top notch listening environments, automakers often employ audio engineers who are quite skilled at being good listeners. We imagine they also enjoy ruining social events by droning on about such things as oxygen-free copper center conductors and ohm impedance. Matt Kirsch however, an audio engineer with General Motors, may be more interesting judging by his preferred playlist used when testing audio setups. Kirsh has made public his own Top 10 list for testing the mettle of our own sound systems.

  1. “Don’t Know Why” by Norah Jones. Listen for Norah’s voice to sound natural, and centered in front of you.
  2. “Diamonds and Rust” by Joan Baez. Listen for strong vocals, and for the instruments to be set across a wide sound stage.
  3. “No One” by Alicia Keys. Listen for clarity in Alicia’s vocals and spacious background sound.
  4. “Hotel California” by the Eagles. Listen for the clarity and dynamic range during the opening guitar solo, and of course the powerful drum beat.
  5. “Boom Boom Pow“by the Black Eyed Peas. Listen for powerful, accurate bass beats, even at full volume.
  6. “Rock that Body“by the Black Eyed Peas. Listen clear, intelligible lyrics over the powerful, persistent bass beat.
  7. “Hide and Seek“by Imogen Heap. Listen for the enveloping ambience of the song, building on the openness and dynamic vocals.
  8. “He Mele No Lilo” by Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu from Lilo and Stitch.Listen for the ambience and staging as the children’s chorus is offset by powerful bass.
  9. “Bird on a Wire” by Johnny Cash. Listen for the clarity in Johnny’s distinctive voice, and his guitar to sound natural and free of any coloration.
  10. “Packt Like Sardines in a Crushd Tin Box” by Radiohead. Listen for the punch from the percussive bass, and the ring of the steel drums.

The list is varied between genres and decades, and it’s jam packed with a plethora of instruments to stretch the legs on your tweeters, mid-range units and on down to the subs. Finding music with high highs and lovely lows is necessary to experience the complete auditory road trip, and Kirsh’s playlist does just that. Don’t believe us? The General posted the playlist on iTunes so you can see for yourself.

[Source: USA Today]

Audio engineer lists top 10 songs to test a car stereo originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevy Caprice outperforms Ford and Dodge police cars in official test… or does it?

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Specialty

Chevrolet Caprice PPV

2011 Chevrolet Caprice PPV — Click above for high-res image gallery

The police vehicle market is flush with new iron from all quarters, making the results of this year’s Michigan State Police Vehicle Evaluation hotly anticipated. Ford brought its new Taurus-based Police Interceptor, Chrysler had the 2011 Dodge Charger Police Pursuit model, and General Motors showed up with the Chevrolet Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle. Preliminary results of the performance and dynamics testing put the Caprice PPV on top of its rivals, says GM, but there’s a catch.

Chevrolet is touting the unofficial test outcome (final results will be released later this year) as proof of the Caprice PPV’s superiority. Being quicker to both 60 and 100 mph and offering shorter stopping distances are performance attributes that officers appreciate, as is a 6.0-liter V8 and a chassis that handled Grattan Raceway with the best average lap time. Thing is, despite the fact that Ford’s forthcoming Taurus-based cruiser was on-hand and competed in the tests, GM only compares its new Caprice to the ancient Crown Vic. The reason? The Blue Oval’s new PI won’t be available for more than a year. According to the blokes at Jalopnik who were on-hand for the shootout, the Caprice was actually bested by the AWD Taurus PI in braking and lap times, but GM has fashioned the ‘not available yet’ loophole to create victory (nevermind that the Caprice isn’t on the streets yet either).

Of course, good performance numbers aren’t all there is to police work, or departments would patrol in Corvettes. Chevrolet says the Caprice PPV leads in interior space and thoughtful touches like seats designed to accommodate officers’ equipment belts. All of this, GM says, adds up to an open-and-shut case for the Caprice Police Patrol Vehicle. You’d expect no less from a press release (posted after the jump), but clearly, the real victory in the race to replace the Crown Victoria has yet to be determined.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Caprice Police Car

[Sources: General Motors, Jalopnik]

Continue reading Chevy Caprice outperforms Ford and Dodge police cars in official test… or does it?

Chevy Caprice outperforms Ford and Dodge police cars in official test… or does it? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 11:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Woman gets Kia Soul after passing drive test on 960th try

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Hatchback, Kia, Humor, South Korea

2010 Kia Soul

Kia Soul – click above for high-res image gallery

We like to think of ourselves as pretty determined folk here the United States. After all, our forebearers forged our country out of a wild and unsettling terrain, fought off tyrants, cooked up some of the most amazing inventions of the last century and helped populate a symbol of diversity and freedom renowned the world over. That doesn’t mean that we’d willingly subject ourselves to the DMV 960 times, however. Yet that’s exactly what a Korean woman, Cha Sa-soon, did on her quest to obtain her driver’s license. Despite copious studying, the 69-year-old Cha just couldn’t manage to get past the written portion of the exam.

In April 2005, she began taking the 50-minute, 40-question test once a day, five days week, failing each time. Eventually her pace slowed to taking the test twice a week, but on the 960th try, she managed to get enough of the questions right to pass.

Local news outlets ran with the story, and it wasn’t long before the tale caught the ear of Hyundai-Kia. The company asked people to post congratulatory messages online, and after an overwhelming response, Kia handed her the keys to a brand-new Soul.

We like her style.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Kia Soul

Photos Copyright (C)2010 John Neff / AOL

[Source: The New York Times]

Woman gets Kia Soul after passing drive test on 960th try originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Reverse spin should be a standardized performance test

Filed under: Etc., Videos

Oldsmobile Cutlass dicing it up – Click above to watch video after the jump

From the file marked “When Men Were Men,” we have this Car & Track review of the 1973 Oldsmobile Cutlass 442. Sure Clarkson can work his way around a 458, but let’s see him handle this baby: 455 cubic inches with a four-barrel carb, 225 horsepower, 0-to-50 in 5.5 seconds, 198 feet to stop from 70 mph and more body roll than a Carnival cruise ship in a Category 5. And check out the reverse spin test to gauge body roll – that’s how you review a car. Follow the jump for a rollicking look at car history.

[Source: YouTube via Jalopnik]

Continue reading Video: Reverse spin should be a standardized performance test

Video: Reverse spin should be a standardized performance test originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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All-electric Saab 9-3 test fleet reportedly to launch in early 2011

Filed under: Sedan, Saab, Electric
During a media launch for the 2011 Saab 9-5, company executives revealed plans to introduce a test fleet of electric vehicles based on the upcoming 9-3. As Inside Line reports, Saab execs confirmed that the test fleet of EVs will roll out in early 2011 and will be deployed at various locations across the globe, including Saab’s hometown of Trollhattan, Sweden.

Saab’s “100 percent electric vehicle” test fleet is a joint effort between the automaker, lithium ion battery producer Boston-Power, electric propulsion systems manufacturer Electroengine and the Swedish Energy Authority. Saab Automobile AB managing director Jan Ake Jonsson said:

The main purpose is to draw technology from this test fleet, technology that we can then incorporate quickly. The key target short-term is to drive fuel consumption down. You can electrify certain portions of the vehicle.

When prodded about a target release date for a mass-production EV, Jonsson ducked out by stating:

Everybody is looking at that question. Nobody has an answer. It will take some time.

Without official word from Jonsson, we’ll have to fall back on the previous comments of Saab’s chief executive officer Victor Muller, who suggested that 2016 is the year the company will go for electrification.

[Source: Inside Line]

All-electric Saab 9-3 test fleet reportedly to launch in early 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ferrari drops new photos of 458 Challenge test session at Vallelunga

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Ferrari, Racing

Ferrari 458 Challenge – Click above for high-res image gallery

A few weeks ago, Ferrari officially debuted its latest Challenge race car, based on the 458 Italia. Now they’ve released new photos of the car during its test session at the Vallelunga race circuit. Factory test drivers Maurizio Mediani and Jaime Melo were on hand to provide feedback on the 458 Challenge, and predictably, both seem impressed with the car’s capabilities. Mediani described his drive as “very quick and extremely good fun,” while his counterpart commented, “I am sure that Prancing Horse competition owners will be very pleased with the car.”

Using the standard roadgoing 458 Italia as a base, Ferrari creates the Challenge version by increasing output of the 4.5-liter V8 to 570 horsepower, cutting weight via thinner and lighter body panels, adding a race-specific suspension setup, fitting 19-inch BBS wheels with Pirelli racing slicks, installing a set of carbon ceramic Brembo brakes and more.

So equipped, Ferrari claims the 458 Challenge can lap Fiorano over two seconds per lap quicker than its predecessor, the F430 Challenge, while pulling a cornea-yanking 1.6g’s worth of lateral acceleration. You can check out the new photos below, and we’ll be sure to bring you any more if Ferrari sends them our way.

Gallery: Ferrari 458 Challenge racer

[Source: Ferrari]

Ferrari drops new photos of 458 Challenge test session at Vallelunga originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 31 Jul 2010 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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