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Video: Toyota releases its Le Mans recap, ‘The Ultimate Endurance Race’

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Toyota, Racing

Two weeks ago, Audi released its short video about this years 24 Hours of Le Mans, and now Toyota has put the experience into its own words and pictures. Called The Ultimate Endurance Race, the clip and accompanying press release focus on how hybrid power helped Toyota claim second and fourth places with the TS030 Hybrid in just its second year competing at Le Mans.

There are some brief scenes of the battles had this year, like when Lucas di Grassi in the Toyota almost kissed Allan McNish in the Audi above, but the best part might be when Toyota promises it will be back. Next year, it’s gonna be good. You’ll find the relevant words and the images just below.

Continue reading Toyota releases its Le Mans recap, ‘The Ultimate Endurance Race’

Toyota releases its Le Mans recap, ‘The Ultimate Endurance Race’ originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Aug 2013 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Diesel Power finds the ultimate modified oil-burner

Filed under: Motorsports, Truck, Videos, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Diesel, Off-Road

For nine years, Diesel Power magazine has run the Diesel Power Challenge, this year’s grindfest being “a week-long torture test that features seven events, nine trucks, 8,000 horsepower, and nearly 15,000 pound-feet of torque.” The road to being crowned “the most powerful truck” starts with a dyno run, and then continues through the completion of a CDL-style obstacle course, an eighth-of-a-mile drag race while towing a 10,000-pound trailer, a quarter-mile drag race without a trailer, a fuel economy test in the mountains and finally a sled-pulling test through a 300-foot-long packed-mud pit.

What kind of trucks get into such a fight? Last year’s winner, for instance – who upgraded his truck this year to prove he didn’t “luck into the win” – drives a 2008 Ford F-250 Super Duty with a 6.4-liter Power Stroke V8 upgraded with a custom intake, Elite Diesel triple turbos and a two-stage nitrous system. Another competitor has a 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 powered by a 5.9-liter Cummins inline-six, upgraded with Garrett turbos, dual-stage nitrous, a seven-inch exhaust stack and twin fans built into the bed to cool the Sun Coast Omega transmission. The numbers on that truck: 1,255 horsepower, and 2,063 pound-feet of torque at the wheels. Naturally, as the image above might suggest, things don’t always end well.

You’ll find all five videos covering this years challenge below. A scene in the dyno video sums it all up perfectly: a competitor leaves his nitrous on too long and the crew is treated to some ominous poppings, he leans out the window, throws both hands up and shouts, “Amer’ca!“

Continue reading Diesel Power finds the ultimate modified oil-burner

Diesel Power finds the ultimate modified oil-burner originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 Aug 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ETC: BMW Ultimate Swimming Machine leaves German police feeling soggy

Filed under: Etc., Humor

BMW 3 Series turned into swimming pool

Four men were pulled over in the German town of Eibenstock in what a police report described as “a convertible of a slightly different kind.” What made this BMW 3 Series Convertible different? It was filled with 530 gallons of water. Yes, four German men had turned their car into a swimming pool.

The beige BMW drew the attention of the German polizei after an officer noticed water sloshing over the sides. Following the car into a parking lot, the four occupants hopped out and made a run for it, according to Der Spiegel. Deutsch police are evidently a bit more assertive when it comes to immobilizing vehicles, as the officers reportedly bled the car’s tires of air and went so far as to disconnect the engine’s spark plug wires. The police believe the men were ~~under water~~ under the influence when they fled the scene, and may issue charges, but there’s no mention of whether they’ll be cited for a lack of proper flotation devices.

The convertible had been sealed with “synthetic material,” and was complete with wood railings and Hawaiian-style decorations. We’re quite partial to the work done on the steering wheel. Sadly, the unusual amphibious car only had one functioning gear and a top speed of just 15.5 miles per hour. When asked by German tabloid Bild about the outing, one of the men gave a stock response in this sort of situation: “the ride was a stupid idea.”

BMW Ultimate Swimming Machine leaves German police feeling soggy originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Jul 2013 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cars.com performs ultimate minivan shootout. Guess who won…

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Chrysler, Dodge, Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen

Cars.com rounded up the year’s crop of new minivans for a comparison, the rare thrill being that minivans from every major maker are completely fresh for 2011. The entrants were the Nissan Quest (pictured), Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey, Chrysler Town & Country, Volkswagen Routan and Dodge Grand Caravan.

The testing format was also novel, in that Cars.com paired its own editors with reviewers from USA Today and the MotorWeek television show, plus the Weatherby family, an ‘average’ family of five – husband, wife and three kids.

After three days of testing and the tallying of numerous criteria, there was, of course, one 7-seater to rule them all. We won’t tell you which one it is, but its reviews included both “It doesn’t look like such a mommy car” and “Distressingly ugly in profile.” The Cars.com video review is after the jump, or head over to the link for the long-form skinny.

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Continue reading Cars.com performs ultimate minivan shootout. Guess who won…

Cars.com performs ultimate minivan shootout. Guess who won… originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 29 May 2011 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Long Term: 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate, May 2011 [w/video]

Filed under: Sedan, Videos, Hyundai, Luxury, Long-Term Garage

2011 Hyundai Equus

Long-Term 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate – Click above for high-res image gallery

The long-term 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate made its way into my driveway a few weeks ago, and since being handed the keys, I’ve added 1,900 miles to the odometer, putting our total distance traveled at just over 5,400 miles since the car’s March arrival at Autoblog Towers.

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Like both editor-in-chief John Neff and editor/test fleet manager Steven J. Ewing, I’ve been bombarded with compliments and curious questions about the Equus – and that’s before I tell them that they’re looking at a $65,000 Hyundai. It helps that the Equus looks like almost nothing else on the road, with its alien grille, massive proportions and over-the-top headlamps.

So far, I’m really enjoying my time with the Equus, and I’ll have a full rundown of specific pros and cons next month. Over the course of my 1,900-mile stint, I’ve averaged 20 miles per gallon flat – besting the 19.1 mpg that Ewing and Neff saw last month. But while the month of May has been mostly all stars, there was one service hiccup that reared its ugly head…

Continue reading 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate, May 2011 [w/video]

2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate, May 2011 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 May 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Bodyless Dodge Viper is the ultimate burnout machine

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Europe, Videos, Dodge

Dodge Viper doing a burnout

Bodyless Dodge Viper does perfect burnouts – Click above to watch video after the jump

Chrysler really should have sold the Dodge Viper without its body. We don’t really have anything against the slinking lines of the big snake, but there’s something about the vision of the V10 monster frolicking around with its skirt off that simply flips all the right switches. It’s like a post-pubescent Ariel Atom. If you recall seeing the awesome Viper-powered Saab 9-3 SportCombi built by Zatzy forum member mrspringer, you probably spent at least half a second wondering what fate befell the engine’s donor.

Well, wonder no more.

Mrspringer seemingly got a hold of the whole vehicle in running condition with one notable exception – it had no skin. Like any mad scientist worth his salt, the guy immediately set the rear tires spinning and the naked guts of the Viper pirouetting in a remarkably tight parking area. We applaud both his car control skills and his commitment to safety. Remember, kids, always wear your seatbelt. Hit the jump to check out the action for yourself.

Continue reading Bodyless Dodge Viper is the ultimate burnout machine

Bodyless Dodge Viper is the ultimate burnout machine originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 May 2011 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AdSpotting: BMW 5 Series “Refuel” reintroduces us to The Ultimate Driving Machine

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, BMW, Luxury

BMW 5 Series Refuel ad

Company: BMWa

Brand: BMW

Medium: TV

Ad Agency: Grey West

Product: 2011 5 Series

Campaign: 5 Series “Refuel”

What We Like: The swagger is back at BMW. After more than a year of fooling around with “Joy” as a lead ad positioning, a new marketing team at the German automaker is re-emphasizing “The Ultimate Driving Machine” as the brand’s central positioning. The 30-second ad contains what many BMW followers like – a fast car and a big plane. No, the plane, which looks to be a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, is not hovering so close to the 5 that it could fill the guy’s coffee cup. But the CGI is good enough to pull off the visual trick.

What We Don’t Like: Not much at all. Getting a story and message across in a 30-second TV ad is not easy. But BMW and this ad agency, Grey West, did a nice job of conveying a fuel efficiency story.

Strategy: BMW marketing chief Dan Creed, who took over at BMW North America a few months ago, is all about re-affirming “The Ultimate Driving Machine” as Bimmer’s main message. At the New York Auto Show, he walked us to the front of BMW’s stand to look at a giant rendering of the ad slogan, which dates back to the early 1970s. At last year’s show, there was a giant banner that proclaimed “Joy of Driving.” “We know there is a lot of joy in driving a BMW, but we are going to show it in pictures and film rather than say it,” says Creed.

It’s worth noting that as fun as this ad is, the message is about the 5 Series’ fuel economy, not the horsepower. BMW is trying to broaden its message to be more inclusive of men and women, as well as tell its story about its investments in the South Carolina plant that produces X3 and X5. But Creed also wants the brand and the cars to show some leg when it comes to marketing and advertising. BMW remains an exciting brand, and a premiere stable of driving machines. That shouldn’t be lost when telling the broader story.

BMW is kicking off a review for a new ad agency. It parted ways with Austin-based GSD&M late last year. New York-based Kirshenbaum Bond Senecal + Partners produced last February’s Super Bowl ads. Grey West, which has handled BMW’s retail and pre-owned advertising since 2008, produced the ad and will presumably get a crack at the whole enchilada.

Grade: A-

Watch the commercial after the jump and give it your own grade below.

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Continue reading AdSpotting: BMW 5 Series “Refuel” reintroduces us to The Ultimate Driving Machine

AdSpotting: BMW 5 Series “Refuel” reintroduces us to The Ultimate Driving Machine originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Long-Term Logbook: 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate, April 2011

Filed under: Sedan, Hyundai, Long-Term Garage

2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate

2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate – Click above for high-res image gallery

Between myself and Editor-in-Chief John Neff, Autoblog has racked up 3,500 miles on our long-term 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate since its arrival in March. Now that the initial honeymoon phase is over, we’re getting a very good feel for how the Big Korean handles day-to-day tasks.

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First and foremost, I continue to be impressed with the sheer number of compliments the Equus receives, most of which are from women. This car really turns heads, possibly due to the fact they’re scarce on the road – I have yet to see another one in metro Detroit. I wasn’t too keen on the Hyundai’s design when it first arrived, but am now finding the Equus to be a very regal beast, especially in white. Even the guys at my local car wash, who don’t usually say much about the test cars I bring through, could not hold back their positive praise. Neff even took the Equus on a high-end house hunting trip and found its presence was enough to convince real estate agents he could afford the top-dollar listings.

I’ve had the chance to take the Equus on a couple of longer road trips, and while it’s comfortable and quiet for the most part, these long-distance drives also brought out some complaints with our long-term tester.

Continue reading Long-Term Logbook: 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate, April 2011…

Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: Long-Term

2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate

Continue reading Long-Term Logbook: 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate, April 2011

Long-Term Logbook: 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate, April 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate joins Autoblog’s Long-Term Garage

Filed under: Sedan, Hyundai, Luxury, Long-Term Garage

2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate long-term

Long-Term 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate – Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2011 Equus proves that Hyundai has the Lexus LS 460 in its sights by offering the best value proposition in the luxury flagship segment. We’re eager to see how Hyundai’s new range-topping model stands up to the day-to-day rigors of American life, and so we’ve just added one to the Autoblog Long-Term Garage.

Our Equus is the fully loaded Ultimate model in White Satin Pearl, and though it’s packed with premium equipment, the as-tested price is only $65,400. The Ultimate trim level adds the four-passenger seating configuration, and no other option packages are available.

Things are pretty luxurious for rear seat passengers, as features like power recline and massage functions have been added, as well as a rear entertainment system, refrigerator, power headrests and illuminated vanity mirrors. And yes, our car does have the reclining right rear passenger seat. Check out our car’s full list of equipment on its Monroney.

Before we go on, we must confess that we haven’t been as regular as we had planned with updates on our other two long-term cars – the Subaru Legacy 2.5 GT and Volkswagen Jetta TDI Street Cup. You’ll be hearing about the fate of both in the very near future, and to fix this issue with irregularity, we’re going to do our long-term updates a bit differently with the Equus.

We’ll be publishing the majority of our on-the-go Equus coverage on Autoblog’s official Facebook page. Be sure to Like the page so you can join the conversation. We’ll also be posting instant impressions to our Twitter account, @therealautoblog, so be sure to follow us and look for any tweets with the #ablongterm tag. Finally, we’ll publish a monthly update right here on the site that includes data like fuel economy and maintenance costs.

We’re ready to add thousands of miles to the Equus’ odometer, so let us know what questions you’d like answered in the comments below and see our car from every angle in the high-res image gallery below.

Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: Long-Term

2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate

2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate joins Autoblog’s Long-Term Garage originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Geneva Motor Show: The 76-Car Ultimate Wrap Up

Filed under: Geneva Motor Show

And… we’re spent. Over the past three days we’ve tried to make you feel as if you were at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show with us, and in doing so showed you 76 production and concept vehicles that were unveiled or on display here. For those counting, that’s a new record for the number of vehicles that Autoblog has covered at one auto show, and you can find every single one below.

But now we’re done. Most of us are power napping right now so that tomorrow we can return to the normal business of Autoblog. It’s been fun and we hope you enjoyed the coverage. See you next month in the Big Apple for the 2011 New York Auto Show.

Production Cars

Lamborghini Aventador	2012 Ferrari FF	Pagani Huayra
2012 Jaguar XKR-S	2012 MB C-Class Coupe	Porsche Panamera S Hybrid
MB C63 AMG Estate	Saab 9-5 SportCombi	Alpina B5 BiTurbo Touring
Koenigsegg Agera R	Aston Martin Virage	Gumpert Tornante
Toyota Prius+	Chevy Cruze Hatchback	Lancia Ypsilon
De Tomaso Deauville	Morgan Threewheeler	Porsche Boxster S Black
Maserati GranCabrio Sport	Ford B-Max	Ford Ranger Wildtrak
VW Golf Cabriolet	VW Tiguan	Hyundai i40 Wagon
Opel Ampera	Mansory Cormeum	Fab Design SLS AMG
ABT R8 GTS	MTM R8 Biturbo	Lexus LFA Nurburgring
Audi RS3 Sportback	GTA Spano	Bentley Supersports ICR
2012 Kia Rio	Fiat 500 by Gucci	2012 Kia Picanto
Koenigsegg Agera	Range Rover Ultimate	BMW ActiveE
Volvo V60 PHEV	Ruf Rt 12 R	Novitec Ross Ferrari 458
Carlsson C25 Royale	Brabus 700 Biturbo	AC Schnitzer 99d

Concept Cars

Toyota FT-86 II	Alfa Romeo 4C	Volkswagen Bulli
Audi A3 Sedan	Wiesmann Spyder	Fiat 500 Zagato Coupe
Saab PhoeniX	Volkswagen Giugiaro Go	Volkswagen Giugiaro Tex
Mitsubishi Global Small	BMW Vision ConnectedDrive	Mazda Minagi
Nissan Esflow	Renault R-Space	Smart ForSpeed
Rinspeed BamBoo	Infiniti Etherea	Mini Rocketman
Renault Captur	RR Sport diesel PHEV	Rolls-Royce 102EX
Bertone Jaguar B99	Suzuki Swift S-Concept	Tata Pixel
IED Abarth Scorp-ion	Ssangyong SUT-1	SEAT IBX

Race Cars

Peugeot 908 Hybrid4	1908 Fiat “Mephistoles”	Lotus F1 & Evora GT4
Pirelli F1 tires

2011 Geneva Motor Show: The 76-Car Ultimate Wrap Up originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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