Tag: top

Top Gear, Clarkson blamed for Reliant Robin prank [w/video]

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Renault, UK, Humor

Click above to view the video after the jump

The Reliant Robin received some time in the spotlight recently when Top Gear superstar Jeremy Clarkson took the three-wheeled auto on a precarious 14-mile journey through the laws of physics. Clarkson managed to roll the tipsy tricycle a bunch of times during the hilarious bit, reminding us again that the instability of three-wheeled vehicles probably isn’t worth the improved fuel economy – at least for those trikes with the single wheel leading the way. The stunt may have captured the attention of some bird-brained pranksters over in the UK, as Barry Cloughton can attest.

The BBC reports that Cloughton’s Reliant Robin was overturned twice in one weekend in what the retired plumber calls a “copy-cat attack.” The motorized trike was first tipped one Friday night as it sat outside Cloughton’s house. After the Robin was returned to its proper upright stance, the vehicle was overturned a second time the following night, this time damaging the side mirror and spilling gasoline all over the driveway and into the man’s garden. Sargent Steve Reid of St. Austell Police stresses that this situation could have become deadly if the petrol were to somehow ignite, adding that pranksters have been tipping vehicles since long before Clarkson first went topsy turvy in June.

On a somewhat odd side note, Cloughton calls his Robin a “good car,” adding that he only turned over a Robin one time after hitting a slippery patch. That’s it, just the one time? Call us crazy, but even flipping one time is probably one time too many. Click past the break to watch Clarkson’s travails with the Robin.

[Source: BBC]

Continue reading Top Gear, Clarkson blamed for Reliant Robin prank [w/video]

Top Gear, Clarkson blamed for Reliant Robin prank [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #190 – Chrysler profit, Top Gear USA and small Buicks

Filed under: Podcasts, Etc., Government/Legal, Safety, Buick, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Lexus, Lincoln, Earnings/Financials

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Chris, Sam and Dan come back for Episode #190 of the Autoblog Podcast, and this time around we talk about Chrysler’s profit announcement, the Top Gear USA trailer, Honda’s latest recall, the Buick Verano. We also touch on a Ferrari-based Lancia Stratos tribute and GM’s prospects for selling Chevrolet Volts. We kick the ball around on a single question before calling it a night right at the hour mark. Thanks for listening, see you next week!

Autoblog Podcast #190 – Chrysler profit, Top Gear USA and small Buicks

In the Autoblog Garage:

Ford F450 Super Duty
Lexus RX450h
Lincoln MKT

News:

  • Chrysler Profit
  • Top Gear USA Trailer
  • Buick Verano
  • Lancia Stratos tribute
  • GM says Chevrolet Volt will find buyers

Hosts:
Dan Roth, Sam Abuelsamid, Chris Shunk

Runtime: 67:26

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Feedback:
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Autoblog Podcast #190 – Chrysler profit, Top Gear USA and small Buicks originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota’s hybrid sales break a million in Japan, Prius still on top

Filed under: Hybrid, Japan, Toyota

2010 Toyota Prius

2010 Toyota Prius – Click above for high-res image gallery

Back in August of 1997, Toyota launched its Coaster Hybrid EV minibus, the company’s first hybrid vehicle. Though the Coaster Hybrid is not a common name, it was the vehicle that started the hybrid revolution at Toyota. The Japanese automaker has now announced that cumulative sales of its hybrids have now topped the one-million mark in its home market. In addition, the company’s global hybrid sales now stand at 2.68 million and counting.

In related news, Toyota announced that the Prius topped the sales charts in Japan once again, marking the 14th consecutive month that the Prius outsold all other models in the Japanese market. While Toyota is comfortably leading the way in hybrid sales, the company is committed to bolstering its lead. Toyota plans to introduce hybrid versions of all of its existing models by 2020 and aims to sell more than one million hybrids per year before the end of the decade. Follow the jump for more info on Toyota’s continued dominance of the hybrid segment.

Gallery: 2010 Toyota Prius

[Source: Toyota]

Continue reading Toyota’s hybrid sales break a million in Japan, Prius still on top

Toyota’s hybrid sales break a million in Japan, Prius still on top originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 08 Aug 2010 11:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: First trailer for U.S. Top Gear!

Filed under: Videos, Cadillac, Celebrities

U.S. Top Gear trailer – Click above to watch the video after the jump

You all know that the long-awaited U.S. version of Top Gear is headed to The History Channel, and now it’s time to get your first taste of the show. The first trailer for the show is online, and if it’s any indication, Tanner Foust, Rutledge Wood and Adam Ferrara are going to win over viewers, and the program will not stray from the BBC original’s successful formula of cool tests and zany challenges.

In fact, one of the new show’s challenges is the trailer’s centerpiece. In involves the hosts determining the best $1,000 car by putting a trio of them through a punishing “moonshine run” dirt course. The ride selected for the teaser is Ferrara’s, the airborne 1976 Cadillac Deville Calais seen above (it could be a ’75, but we’re pretty certain that’s the ’76 grille pattern). How does a malaise-era Caddy handle a landing after catching that much air? About as well as you’d imagine – this isn’t the make-believe world of ’70s cop shows, after all. It’s hilarious.

Bottom line: The hosts exude great chemistry and the motoring action is pretty much everything you’d want and expect from a program calling itself Top Gear. Still under wraps, however, is the Stig. The suspense is killing us. This looks like a completely fun show. Hit the jump to see for yourselves. Thanks to Chris for the tip!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: First trailer for U.S. Top Gear!

Video: First trailer for U.S. Top Gear! originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 07 Aug 2010 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cadillac SRX scores Top Safety Pick from IIHS

Filed under: Safety, Crossover, Cadillac, Luxury

2010 Cadillac SRX IIHS testing – Click above for high-res image gallery

When it comes to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s crash rating system, earning a score of “Good” is the best any automaker can hope for. And if a vehicle receives a score of “Good” for front, side, rear and and rollover crash protection and the vehicle has standard electronic stability control that car, truck or SUV becomes an IIHS Top Safety Pick. The 2010 Cadillac SRX became the 15th midsize SUV to be awarded with the desirable designation after the hot-selling crossover passed the rollover crash protection test with flying colors. The SRX had already received a “Good” score for its performance in the other crash tests.

The current government standard for roof safety is that it needs to be able to support 1.5 times the overall vehicle weight. The roof of the SRX proved to be able to hold 4.14 times its weight, nearly tripling the standards required by the feds. The IIHS tests roof strength by pushing a metal plate against one corner of the roof at a constant rate of speed. The maximum force sustained by the roof before the roof collapses by five inches is compared to the vehicle weight to determine the strength-to-weight ratio. Hit the jump to read over the IIHS presser.

Gallery: 2010 Cadillac SRX IIHS testing

[Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety]

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Cadillac SRX scores Top Safety Pick from IIHS originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toyota Sienna score in Consumer Reports plunges, no longer top-rated

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Crossover, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Toyota


2011 Toyota Sienna – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s generally accepted that every new iteration of any vehicle is somehow better than its predecessor. And that’s true of the 2011 Toyota Sienna minivan, which is festooned with more goodies (like a 16.4-inch widescreen monitor for rear-seat passengers) and a sportier flair (complete with a sporty SE trim) than the previous generation Sienna. The only question that remains, then, is this: Do those improvements automatically equal a better vehicle?

According to Consumer Reports, the answer is no. And surprisingly, it’s not even close, with the new Sienna’s overall test score of 80 paling in comparison to the 2010’s overall score of 94. The main culprits cited by CR for the plummeting score are poor fit and finish and excessive interior noise – bad enough that CR claims it’s not possible to have a proper conversation between front and rear passengers.

So, if not the Toyota Sienna – which held the honor for three straight years – what is CR’s top-rated minivan? The six-year-old Honda Odyssey. For what it’s worth, there’s a new Odyssey coming out next year, but as we’ve seen from the Sienna, a new model doesn’t necessarily equal one that tests better at the influential magazine. It’s also worth noting that the new Sienna’s overall score is roughly on par with that of the Kia Sedona, which has been available in its current configuration since 2006.

Consumer Reports also tested other people movers, such as the micro-minivan Mazda5 and the large box-on-wheels crossover Ford Flex. Both vehicles got rather positive reviews, and testers found that they may be looked at as realistic replacements for the tried-and-true minivan paradigm of the Toyota Sienna. Check out the official press release after the break.

Gallery: 2011 Toyota Sienna

[Source: Consumer Reports]

Continue reading Toyota Sienna score in Consumer Reports plunges, no longer top-rated

Toyota Sienna score in Consumer Reports plunges, no longer top-rated originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HDLI: Cadillac Escalade top target for thieves

Filed under: Coupe, SUV, Truck, Cadillac, Ford, Infiniti, Luxury

The Highway Data Loss Institute has churned out its official list of vehicles with the highest and lowest insurance claims for theft. The study combines the rate of insurance claims per vehicle as well as the cost of those claims, helping companies that supply coverage determine exactly how much to charge us poor saps. The Cadillac Escalade took top honors this year with $146 in theft loss payments per insured vehicle, per year. On average, insurance companies pay out around $11,934 per theft claim when it comes to the Escalade with 10.8 of the SUVs stolen per 1,000 vehicles. That’s more than 10 times the theft rate of the vehicle with the lowest theft losses – the Volvo S80.

In fact, of the top 10 vehicles on the Highway Data Loss Institute’s list, six were of General Motors origin. How do the thieves get around the bad-guy battling OnStar vehicle immobilization? Easy. They load the coveted SUVs onto a flat bed and drive away.

The 2008-2009 Ford F-250 crew cab four-wheel drive took the silver when it came to vehicles with the highest theft loss, followed by the 2008-2009 Infiniti G37 coupe. Hit the jump to see if your vehicle’s on the list.

[Source: HDLI]

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HDLI: Cadillac Escalade top target for thieves originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 BMW 5-Series nabs IIHS Top Safety Pick laurels

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Safety, BMW, Luxury

2011 BMW 535i – Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2011 BMW 5 series can stick another feather in its jaunty Alpine cap. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has awarded the German automaker’s middle child the coveted Top Safety Pick accolade. The newest generation of the 5er managed to nab the highest ratings possible for front, side, rear and rollover crash protection, becoming the first 5 Series to win the Top Safety Pick in the model’s history. Surprisingly enough, the 2011 5 Series is also the first BMW to take the award since the IIHS incorporated its new roll-over test.

The institute says that BMW has made up impressive ground in the area of side impact protection. Last year’s car only managed a “marginal” rating during that section of testing, while the new car was granted the highest rating possible. The institute goes on to say that its test replicates an impact from a larger vehicle, such as an SUV of a pickup truck, to accommodate for the higher number of these vehicles on the road today. Full details at the link below.

Gallery: 2011 BMW 5 Series IIHS Crash Test

[Source: IIHS]

2011 BMW 5-Series nabs IIHS Top Safety Pick laurels originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MTM releases first round of upgrades for RS5, raises top speed to 188 mph

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Audi, Luxury

MTM Audi RS5 – Click above for high-res image gallery

The clever wrenches at the German tuning powerhouse MTM have gotten a hold of the Audi RS5. Always ones to turn fast faster, the group claims to have squeezed the car’s top speed to 188 mph. But instead of focusing on pulling even more horsepower from the already staggering 4.2-liter V8, the company simply upped the factory speed limiter to allow for a more potent v-max. MTM will politely ask for a check for $1,429 (at current conversion rates) for the upgrade, which isn’t exactly pocket change. According to MTM, the car still produces 450 horsepower, though the company will be happy to supply you with a new free-breathing exhaust system that just might turn an extra pony or two loose.

In addition to the lofty top speed, MTM has rolled out a hefty selection of wheels just for the RS5. We’re guessing a new set of tires will probably be in order if you plan on bumping up against that new 188 mph top end, too. Eventually, the company plans to roll out a complete suspension for the car. And here’s hoping they come up with some equally competent brakes in the process.

Gallery: MTM Audi RS5

[Source: MTM]

MTM releases first round of upgrades for RS5, raises top speed to 188 mph originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mitsubishi Lancer earns Top Safety Pick award, first small car Mitsubishi to pass new rollover test [*UPDATE]

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Safety, Mitsubishi

2010 Mitsubishi Lancer ES – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has named the Mitsubishi Lancer one of its top safety picks. The four-door sedan managed to be the first small car Mitsubishi that the Institute has tested to pass the new roll-over test with a “good” rating. As much as we like entertaining ourselves by thinking about the researchers flipping a bevy of cars and SUVs from 9-to-5, that isn’t quite how the institute tests for rollover strength.

Instead, a large metal plate exerts a steady force on the roof of a vehicle until the crash structure deflects by five inches. At that point, the boffins measure the amount of force it took to bend the roof and compare it to the overall weight of the vehicle. From there, a strength-to-weight ratio can be established. Currently, the federal government requires a vehicle’s roof to be able to withstand 1.5 times the weight of the car, and in order for a vehicle to earn a “good” rollover rating from the IIHS, the roof needs to be able to stand up to four times the weight of the vehicle.

Gallery: 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer ES

[Source: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety]

Mitsubishi Lancer earns Top Safety Pick award, first small car Mitsubishi to pass new rollover test [*UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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