Paco Godia Carel Godin de Beaufort Christian Goethals Paul Goldsmith Josй Froilбn Gonzбlez
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Kimi Raikkonen: My hunger for Formula 1 is ?overwhelming?
After it was confirmed that Kimi Raikkonen would return to Formula 1 next year, the former World Champion has been speaking about his decision. The 32-year-old has signed a two-year deal with Renault (who will become Lotus in 2012) to return to the sport he left in 2009. Speaking about his decision to return, Raikkonen [...]
Mercedes to change test approach in ?12
Mercedes GP boss Ross Brawn says his team will not repeat the mistake of introducing a big upgrade package in the first race of the season without having tested it properly. The team decided to run with a basic aerodynamic package in the first tests of 2011 before introducing the upgrades it would race in the first grand prix of the season in the final test. Brawn believes that strategy left the team confused as there was too much to test, and he says they will not do that again next year.
Z Line Designs Toyota Parker Kligerman Trevor Bayne Out! Pet Care Toyota Jason Leffler
Nissan NV Food Trucks Compared: Coolhaus vs. The Grilled Cheese Truck
The entry-luxury street food segment is blossoming, and the growth is perhaps no more evident than in Los Angeles. Eager to fill that niche?and the mouths of always-hungry journalists?Nissan parked a pair of NV2500 food trucks at its L.A. auto show stand and had two local vendors hand out samples. Thus we had the makings [...]
Cecil Green Keith Greene Masten Gregory Cliff Griffith Georges Grignard
991 Variants, the Beginning: 2012 Porsche 911 Cabriolet
The dam has sprung a leak?brace yourself for a flood of 911 variants. The first volleys of what will soon become a crushing salvo have landed. Following the introduction of the 2012 911 at the Frankfurt auto show, Porsche is starting the rollout of the full 991 family with the Carrera and Carrera S cabriolets. [...]
Kyle Busch Toyota Kimmy Z Line Designs Toyota Parker Kligerman Trevor Bayne
Name That Exhaust Note, Episode 114: 2012 Hyundai Veloster
On Tuesday, we posted an audio recording of a mystery car?s exhaust note. To hear it again, click play above. Almost everyone who commented figured out that this week?s sound came from a four-cylinder engine. Only a few of you correctly identified it as the 2012 Hyundai Veloster. Like that sound? Download the MP3 and [...]
Ryan Joseph Newman Kyle Eugene Petty Floyd Anthony Raines Scott Russell Riggs Hiroshi Fushida
McLaren: Button wanted to pass Alonso without using DRS | 2011 Brazilian GP team review
"I wanted to get him into turn one, it?s more fun to pass without DRS."
Willi Heeks Nick Heidfeld Theo Helfrich Mack Hellings Brian Henton
Renault not ruling out Kubica yet
Renault still wants to hold talks with Robert Kubica to see if there is a possibility for him at the team next year, despite signing up Kimi Raikkonen for 2012. With Kubica having been unable to guarantee the outfit he will be ready for the start of winter testing, Renault moved quickly to secure the F1 return of Raikkonen with a two-year deal. And although Renault has a contract in place with Vitaly Petrov for next season, team principal Eric Boullier admitted on Tuesday that the outfit was still open-minded about its plans for the second seat - and could not rule out Kubica taking that slot later in the campaign if he is fit
Helm Glцckler Paco Godia Carel Godin de Beaufort Christian Goethals Paul Goldsmith
Red Bull sure it can still improve
Red Bull Racing is in a better position to maintain its dominance of Formula 1 going forward than when it came into its back-to-back title-winning campaigns. That is the view of Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner, who thinks that the challenge of keeping his outfit at the front of the grid in 2012 is made easier because of the progress it has made in the last 12 months. "We know our rivals will not stand still, but what makes this title and retaining the title so special is that the calibre of opponents we are up against is so high," explained Horner
Chris Irwin Jean Pierre Jabouille Jimmy Jackson Joe James John James
Volkswagen eT! Concept Theorizes a New Way to Haul the Mail
Unless you lived in Germany in the 1960s or ?70s?where it was omnipresent?or happened to read our coverage of this year?s Concours d?LeMons, chances are you’ve never seen an example of the Volkswagen ?Fridolin.? The small commercial vanlet, which was based on the original VW Beetle, was developed with and for the Deutsche Bundespost, the [...]
Bruce Johnstone Alan Jones Tom Jones Juan Jover Oswald Karch
Vettel grabs record-breaking pole
Sebastian Vettel flew to a record 15th pole position of the 2011 season with an imperious performance in Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying at Interlagos. The world champion topped Q2 then absolutely dominated Q3. Vettel's initial 1m12.268s effort put him a quarter of a second clear of the pack, and he then improved to 1m11.918s with his final attempt.
Denny Hulme James Hunt Jim Hurtubise Gus Hutchison Jacky Ickx
Robert Richardson Jr. and No. 23 Tia Rosa Tortilla / Takis Chevrolet close out season with 22nd place effort at Homestead-Miami Speedway
No. 23 Tia Rosa Tortilla / Takis Chevrolet ImpalaCHINA GROVE, N.C. (November 20, 2011) ? Robert Richardson, Jr. and No. 23 Tia Rosa Tortilla / Takis Chevrolet of R3 Motorsports finished out the 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series with a commendable lead-lap finish of 22nd place at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday. After qualifying 37th for the...more»
Michael Duane Bliss Kurt Thomas Busch Kyle Thomas Busch Jeffrey Tyler Burton Richard Allen Craven
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Vettel says pole record is special
Sebastian Vettel said he was emotional after securing what he labelled as a special record after setting a new benchmark for the most pole positions in a season in Brazil. The German driver grabbed his 30th career pole and the 15th of the year to break Nigel Mansell's record, established in 1992 over 16 races
Timo Glock Helm Glцckler Paco Godia Carel Godin de Beaufort Christian Goethals
Huff leads Porto practice two
Rob Huff comfortably topped the times in today's second World Touring Car Championship free practice session around the Porto street circuit. The current points leader took his Chevrolet around the circuit in 2m05.719s, further lowering the marker for fastest-ever touring car lap on the resurfaced track. Huff's team-mate Alain Menu had set the previous benchmark with a 2m07.068s in the opening session earlier in the morning
Peter Gethin Piercarlo Ghinzani Bruno Giacomelli Dick Gibson Gimax
Singer Re-Imagines the Air-Cooled 964-Gen Porsche 911
The notion of an outsider ?re-imagining? the legendary Porsche 911 is akin to some new artist designing a colorful new smock and background for the Mona Lisa. (Indeed, the new 991 911 Carrera demonstrates that not even Porsche itself can do it without upsetting at least a few purists.) But as we discovered at a [...]
Floyd Anthony Raines Scott Russell Riggs Hiroshi Fushida Beppe Gabbiani Bertrand Gachot
Sauber pins hopes on rain to recover
Sauber's head of track engineering Giampaolo Dall'Ara is hoping the rain helps his team make progress in the rain tomorrow after a difficult qualifying.
Ignazio Giunti Timo Glock Helm Glцckler Paco Godia Carel Godin de Beaufort
AUTOS: Europe's 'SEMA Show' In Essen
The most tuners and customizers this side of Las Vegas crowd German show, along with a focus on motorsports.
Roberto Guerrero Maurнcio Gugelmin Dan Gurney Hubert Hahne Mike Hailwood
WSBK: Haslam Quickest At Portimao
Leon Haslam posted the fastest time while Marco Melandri, Chaz Davies, Michel Fabrizio, Leon Camier, and Eugene Laverty got acclimated to their new rides.
Randy Joseph Lajoie Kevin Paul Lepage William Ashton Lewis Jr Sterling Burton Marlin Mark Anthony Martin
Alonso hoping for rain on raceday
Fernando Alonso says that it is too early to say how competitive Ferrari will be in this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos despite lapping just two tenths slower than Lewis Hamilton's pace-setting time in Friday's free practice sessions.
Carel Godin de Beaufort Christian Goethals Paul Goldsmith Josй Froilбn Gonzбlez Oscar Gonzбlez
Monday, November 28, 2011
Hispania F111 Launch pictures ( 8th of February)
Hispania unveiled their 2011-spec single-seater on 8th February, even though the whole thing happened via an online photo shoot in which the images of the new HRT F111 were computer-generated.
Team principal Colin Kolles said: ?The F111 represents a significant step forward for Hispania Racing. We have made a big improvement for starting our second season in Formula 1 and what you see in our new car confirms Hispania Racing's commitment to F1.?
HRT aim to run the car for the first time in the pre-season test at Bahrain which begins on March 3rd.
The team employed Hollywood concept vehicle designer Daniel Simon - known for his work on the 2011 film Tron: Legacy - to design the car's livery. He said, ?I miss fearless visual statements and large beautiful numbers on today?s racing cars.
?Playing with the restrictions of what you can do to a complex F1 body is fun. There are many don?ts, but I found a way to lay courageous racing essence on the car.?
The team confirmed it will have an adjustable rear wing. However it will not have a Kinetic Energy Recovery System.
Hispania F111 Launch pictures
Massa makes 100 Ferrari starts but no podium | 2011 Brazilian GP stats and facts
Felipe Massa is the first Ferrari driver in 30 years to spend a season outside the top three.
Parker Kligerman Trevor Bayne Out! Pet Care Toyota Jason Leffler David Carl Allison
The Continental: VW Observations, BMW Continues to Save the Manuals, and Notes on NCAP
Each week, our German correspondent slices and dices the latest rumblings, news, and quick-hit driving impressions from the other side of the pond. His byline may say Jens Meiners, but we simply call him . . . the Continental. While I spent the past few weeks in the U.S. and the People’s Republic of China [...]
Jason Leffler David Carl Allison Gregory Jack Biffle David Lee Blaney Michael Duane Bliss
Lexus Introduces 2013 GS250 for U.K., Won?t Bring to U.S.
Lexus recently unveiled the 2013 GS sedan range, which here in the U.S. will include the GS350, GS350 F Sport, and GS450h hybrid. There?s now a fourth member of the GS lineup, the 250, that will go on sale in the U.K. Packing less displacement than other GS models, the 250 comes equipped similarly to [...]
Charles Robert Hamilton IV Charles Robert Hamilton V Kevin Michael Harvick Virgil Ernest Irvan III Kenny Dale Irwin Jr
Blake Koch 23rd In Season Finale; Reed Sorenson 25th For MacDonald Motorsports At Homestead-Miami Speedway
MacDonald Motorsports Thumbnail(HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA) November 21, 2011 ? After 10 months and 34 races, the NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year came down to one weekend in South Florida. As it was the entire season, the race proved to be a battle for Blake Koch with fellow rookie contender, Timmy Hill. Blake?s Daystar.com No....more»
Kyle Busch Toyota Kimmy Z Line Designs Toyota Parker Kligerman Trevor Bayne
Finale Earns ESPN?s Largest NASCAR Sprint Cup Viewership Ever
ESPNThe final race of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup featured a down-to-the-wire battle for the championship and earned the largest viewership ever for a NASCAR Sprint Cup race telecast on ESPN. With a peak audience of 10.5 million when the checkered flag fell on champion Tony Stewart at 8:08 p.m. ET, ESPN?s telecast...more»
Virgil Ernest Irvan III Kenny Dale Irwin Jr Dale Arnold Jarrett Jimmie Kenneth Johnson Kasey Kenneth Kahne
Vettel fastest in final practice at Brazilian GP (PA SportsTicker)
Sebastian Vettel was fastest in the final practice before qualifying at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Theo Helfrich Mack Hellings Brian Henton Johnny Herbert Al Herman
Button struggling on soft tyres
Jenson Button admitted he struggled to get any speed out of the softer Pirelli tyre in Brazilian Grand Prix practice - but is generally confident in his McLaren's pace around Interlagos. The Briton ended up only seventh in today's second session, where the best times were set on softs.
Ralph Dale Earnhardt Sr Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr Carl Michael Edwards III William Clyde Elliott Jeffrey Michael Gordon
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Interlagos considers moving pits
Brazilian Grand Prix chiefs are considering a plan to move the Interlagos pits and paddock to the current back straight as part of circuit improvements pencilled in for the next few years. With the track evaluating modifications in the wake of two fatal stock car accidents earlier this year, there is already a scheme in place for revisions to be made to the run-off areas and current pitlane entry for next year. One longer-term proposal being considered for 2013 is the total relocation of the pits and paddock - to allow the circuit to build new garages, team offices, media centre and hospitality areas
Danny Kladis Hans Klenk Peter de Klerk Christian Klien Karl Kling
Video: Latest Chrysler "Imported From Detroit" ad trades in Eminem for poetry on Thanksgiving
Filed under: Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Chrysler, Luxury
Edgar Albert Guest was a transplanted Detroiter, his family having moved from Birmingham, England to The Motor City well before Detroit earned that nickname. From there, he embraced the city and life itself, penning more than 10,000 poems with titles like "On Quitting" and "It Takes a Heap O' Livin'." His works had simple, inspiring themes that earned him the title of The People's Poet and the only-ever Poet Laureateship of Michigan. And it is he that Chrysler has turned to for its next Imported from Detroit commercial, advertising the 2012 Chrysler 300.
Guest's poem "See it Through," a lash of encouragement for the folks battling World War I, is spoken over snatches of Detroit still-lifes: children swinging, NFL fans tailgating, a grocer in his doorway. Underneath all that, Muddy Waters does a little bit of his version of "Mannish Boy." It doesn't have the shock and grit of Eminem's take, but it's just as good.
In fact, it's so good at recasting images of Detroit that we thought the city itself should do the same for itself, then AdWeek found out someone else already did. Boat Magazine, a biannual English magazine about cities, did its second issue on Detroit. To advertise it, Boat produced a video using voiceover of the same Guest poem and its own quotidian scenes of the city. Chalk up another one for high coincidence. If you missed the commercial during yesterday's Thanksgiving Day Lion's game, you can check it out after the jump - and we've even included the Boat Magazine vid for good measure.
Latest Chrysler "Imported From Detroit" ad trades in Eminem for poetry on Thanksgiving originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Nov 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsDavid Hampshire Sam Hanks Walt Hansgen Mike Harris Cuth Harrison
Webber intent on carrying on momentum
Mark Webber says he intends to carry the momentum of a strong end to the 2011 season through Formula 1's winter break as he aims to close the gap to Red Bull team-mate and double world champion Sebastian Vettel. Following the Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend, Webber will return to Australia for a six-week rest before returning to test with Red Bull at the start of the 2012 campaign. The 37-year-old Australian accepts that the gap to Vettel has been significant during 2011, but feels he has seen an improvement in his race performance through the year, which he hopes to carry into 2012.
Lewis Hamilton David Hampshire Sam Hanks Walt Hansgen Mike Harris
Official: Lexus IS F Circuit Club Sport Package comes into focus
Filed under: Aftermarket, Motorsports, Sedan, Performance, Etc., Lexus, Luxury
Lexus has turned its already fast IS F over to the go-fast guys at Toyota Racing Development. The finished product is the IS F Circuit Club Sport, and the sport sedan wears a wide range of aero and mechanical improvements. We've known this model was coming for some time thanks to a 2010 Tokyo Auto Salon concept and details spouted late this summer, but these photos provide our best look yet at this touring-car-like model.
Outside, engineers have fitted the IS F with a new front spoiler, rear diffuser and hood, all of which are fabricated from weight-saving carbon fiber. You may have also noticed the vehicle's sizable rear wing. A performance damper kit is also part of the package, offering buyers two separate settings that independently adjustable compression. The luxury bruiser also comes equipped with lightweight forged aluminum wheels, though magnesium rollers are also available.
Mechanically, the IS F Circuit Club Sport Package utilizes a TRD limited-slip differential as well as a TRD big brake kit. At this point, there's no word on how much the package will cost or when it will be available. We aren't even sure American buyers will be able to sink their teeth into the factory-bred racer, so stay tuned.
Lexus IS F Circuit Club Sport Package comes into focus originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsBeppe Gabbiani Bertrand Gachot Patrick Gaillard Divina Galica Nanni Galli
Tune it! Safe! Abt Audi R8 GTR unveiled
Built to promote responsible tuning, the supercar has police livery, a carbon fiber body kit and 5.2-liter V10 engine.
Alan Dennis Kulwicki Travis Wade Kvapil Robert Allen Labonte Terrence Lee Labonte Randy Joseph Lajoie
Official: Aston Martin gets to work on new V12 Vantage GT3
Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Aston Martin, Luxury, Racing
It seems to us like Aston Martin never tires of rolling out ever hotter renditions of its Vantage sports coupe. As if the original V8 Vantage weren't enticing enough, Aston then shoehorned a V12 under the hood. Zagato then rebodied what we already thought was one of the shapeliest beasts on the market. And the improvements just keep on rumbling in. But then there's the racing versions. Oh, the racing versions!
The N24 showed us what it meant to take beauty to the beast that is the Nürburgring. Then came the GT4 racing model, followed by the even hotter GT2. The category in-between used to be tended to by the DBRS9, but now Aston's opted to replace it with yet another competition version of the Vantage.
First teased back in April, Aston revealed further photos and details of the V12 Vantage GT3 in August, and the British marque has now commenced track testing of its latest racing machine. Packing a 6.0-liter V12 with more than 600 horsepower and enough wings and ducting to make a fighter jet blush, the new Vantage GT3 has already covered a thousand kilometers of shakedown running while gearing up to take on series like the FIA GT3 championships, the Blancpain Endurance Series and the VLN Nürburgring series.
Like what you see? There's a fresh pair of images we've added to our gallery, and a whole mess of specifications in the press release after the jump, so check 'em out and start dreaming of racing glory.
Continue reading Aston Martin gets to work on new V12 Vantage GT3
Aston Martin gets to work on new V12 Vantage GT3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Nov 2011 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsHans Herrmann Franзois Hesnault Hans Heyer Damon Hill Graham Hill
Vettel leads final Brazilian GP practice
Sebastian Vettel edged out Jenson Button to set the fastest time in the final free practice session ahead of Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying at Interlagos. Their respective Red Bull and McLaren team-mates Mark Webber and Lewis Hamilton were third and fourth. As had been the case on Friday, most of the session was a Red Bull versus McLaren battle at the front.
Johnny Herbert Al Herman Hans Herrmann Franзois Hesnault Hans Heyer
'Pretty Boy' Porsche 911 Carrera 4S by Cars & Art
German tuner provides the Carrera 4S with a complete matte-white foil cover with high-gloss baby-blue elements. 
Kenny Dale Irwin Jr Dale Arnold Jarrett Jimmie Kenneth Johnson Kasey Kenneth Kahne Matthew Roy Kenseth
Robert Kubica Could Be Ruled Out For At Least A Year Following Accident
Polish racing driver Robert Kubica will spend at least one whole year recovering from a rally crash he suffered this morning, according to his surgeon. Kubica, who races for Renault Lotus crashed the Skoda Fabia rally car this morning and was airlifted to hospital suffering serious injuries. He has spent many hours in surgery, with [...]
Duncan Hamilton Lewis Hamilton David Hampshire Sam Hanks Walt Hansgen
St. Louis County: We Don?t Build Bike Lanes Because No One Bikes
Great news from greater St. Louis: Communities from across the region put their heads together, and after 16 months of labor came up with a bike master plan that includes a 1,000-mile cycling network.
St. Louis county has made no accommodations for cyclists on its roads "as a matter of policy" because they say hardly anyone [...]
St. Louis county has made no accommodations for cyclists on its roads "as a matter of policy" because they say hardly anyone [...]
Juan Jover Oswald Karch Narain Karthikeyan Ukyo Katayama Ken Kavanagh
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Mercedes MGP W02 Launch pictures ( 1st of February)
Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg revealed their 2011 challenger, the Mercedes MGP W02 on Tuesday 1st February 2011, shortly before the first test session of the year began in Valencia.
The car?s livery is an evolution from its predecessor with a striking high-gloss airbrush effect highlighting the shape of the car. The interaction between the Silver Arrows heritage and the green shading representing the team?s title partner PETRONAS evokes memories of the first Silver Arrow car of 1934 with a modern touch added by 3D partner logos.
The car hasn?t only had an attractive re-spray, it is more of a revolutionary car which has little in common with its predecessor, the Mercedes W01.
Mercedes GP had switched focus on the development of their new car ever since midway last season, when team boss Ross Brawn realized the W01 challenger was not going to make any championship statements in 2010.
Link?The new Silver Arrow for the 2011 season has little in common with its immediate predecessor. Our chassis engineers have taken a fairly ruthless approach and were determined to shave off every superfluous gram and millimetre. What emerged from this process is a compact and exquisitely shaped vehicle that introduces a host of sophisticated solutions and truly reflects the enormous dedication of its constructors.?
- Norbert Haug
Confident Mercedes set ambitious targets for MGP W02 ( The Official F1)
"A confident-looking Mercedes GP launched their 2011 car in the Valencia pit lane on Tuesday. After their championship-winning success as Brawn in 2009, the team endured a hit and miss 2010 season and are now targeting a return to their winning ways with the new MGP W02, which will once again be driven by Nico Rosberg and seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher."Mercedes MGP W02 Launch pictures
Can Schumacher win again?
When Michael Schumacher announced he was returning to Formula 1, the first question many people asked was: will be as good as he was before? And so far he hasn?t quite reached the heights that saw him win the world title five years in a row. But this season has seen a different Michael Schumacher [...]
Travis Wade Kvapil Robert Allen Labonte Terrence Lee Labonte Randy Joseph Lajoie Kevin Paul Lepage
Video: Latest Chrysler "Imported From Detroit" ad trades in Eminem for poetry on Thanksgiving
Filed under: Sedan, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Chrysler, Luxury
Edgar Albert Guest was a transplanted Detroiter, his family having moved from Birmingham, England to The Motor City well before Detroit earned that nickname. From there, he embraced the city and life itself, penning more than 10,000 poems with titles like "On Quitting" and "It Takes a Heap O' Livin'." His works had simple, inspiring themes that earned him the title of The People's Poet and the only-ever Poet Laureateship of Michigan. And it is he that Chrysler has turned to for its next Imported from Detroit commercial, advertising the 2012 Chrysler 300.
Guest's poem "See it Through," a lash of encouragement for the folks battling World War I, is spoken over snatches of Detroit still-lifes: children swinging, NFL fans tailgating, a grocer in his doorway. Underneath all that, Muddy Waters does a little bit of his version of "Mannish Boy." It doesn't have the shock and grit of Eminem's take, but it's just as good.
In fact, it's so good at recasting images of Detroit that we thought the city itself should do the same for itself, then AdWeek found out someone else already did. Boat Magazine, a biannual English magazine about cities, did its second issue on Detroit. To advertise it, Boat produced a video using voiceover of the same Guest poem and its own quotidian scenes of the city. Chalk up another one for high coincidence. If you missed the commercial during yesterday's Thanksgiving Day Lion's game, you can check it out after the jump - and we've even included the Boat Magazine vid for good measure.
Latest Chrysler "Imported From Detroit" ad trades in Eminem for poetry on Thanksgiving originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Nov 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsChief Engineer talks up the 2013 Camaro ZL1 Convertible [video]
The ZL1's chief engineer Al Oppenheiser claims the car is not just about horsepower but performance and handling too. 
Casey James Mears Juan Pablo Montoya Joseph Francis Nemechek III Ryan Joseph Newman Kyle Eugene Petty
Report: Georgia police car accidentally sold on Craigslist
Filed under: Sedan, Etc., Government/Legal, Ford, Police/Emergency
We're not strangers to the allure of Craigslist. The classified ad site is our go-to distraction when it comes time to contemplate our next project vehicle, and we've been tempted by the occasional decommissioned Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor more often than we care to admit. As one Chattanooga, Tennessee man recently found out, those vehicles may be more trouble than they're worth. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Luke Ridings was recently stopped by authorities as he was driving his newly acquired Crown Vic, complete with lights, camera and radar equipment. Ridings said that he bought the vehicle for $4,000 from an individual in Georgia.
The only problem was that the cruiser was supposed to be crushed by a towing company after electrical issues had forced officials in East Ellijay to pull the vehicle from service. At this point, the company is trying to discover how it originally lost track of the doomed Interceptor. Ridings had his slightly used cop car confiscated and was charged with operating an unregistered vehicle as well as underage drinking.
Georgia police car accidentally sold on Craigslist originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Nov 2011 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsIgnazio Giunti Timo Glock Helm Glцckler Paco Godia Carel Godin de Beaufort
Official: NHTSA releases Chevy Volt fire investigation details
Filed under: Hybrid, Government/Legal, Safety, Hatchback, Chevrolet
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a statement on its investigation into a Chevrolet Volt fire that occurred at the organization's facilities. NHTSA had done a side-impact test on a Volt then parked it outside, and three weeks later Chevy's plug-in hybrid caught fire. The battery was determined to be the cause, after its coolant line was ruptured during the side-impact test. That led the NHTSA to consider a ruling forcing hybrid and electric-car batteries to be drained after a wreck.
On Friday, NHTSA said it is opening "a formal safety defect investigation" to study the risks of fire in Chevy Volts that have been in major accidents. To be clear, though, the larger story is that this isn't just about the Volt, this is about any vehicle with a battery pack, with NHTSA gathering "additional information about the potential for fire in electric vehicles involved in a crash...."
NHTSA conducted three more tests on the Volt's battery packs over three days, each test involving damaging the pack and rotating the car to simulate an accident and rollover. The battery pack in the third test began to smoke and spark almost immediately, the pack in the second test caught fire a week later. It is due to these results that the formal investigation has been opened. Follow the jump for NHTSA's complete statement.
Continue reading NHTSA releases Chevy Volt fire investigation details
NHTSA releases Chevy Volt fire investigation details originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 26 Nov 2011 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsNicolas Kiesa Leo Kinnunen Danny Kladis Hans Klenk Peter de Klerk
Hamilton: This is the start of something very good
After winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at the weekend, Lewis Hamilton has said that it marks the start of a new chapter. The McLaren man has had a difficult season overall, but was back to his best at the weekend to secure a memorable victory. Speaking afterwards he said: “It is early days yet, [...]
Charles Robert Hamilton IV Charles Robert Hamilton V Kevin Michael Harvick Virgil Ernest Irvan III Kenny Dale Irwin Jr
Abt sets pace on first day of testing
Daniel Abt topped the first day of GP3's post-season test at Valencia, eventually ending more than six tenths clear of the rest of the field. The Lotus ART driver was the first man to break the 1m40s barrier in cold early conditions, and then moved comfortably clear of his opposition when he bolted on fresh rubber as the day drew to a close. Jenzer Motorsport's Patric Niederhauser ended the day second fastest but 0.636s in arrears - with Victor Guerin (Lotus ART) and Conor Daly (Carlin) also able to get within seven tenths of Abt's benchmark.
Sterling Burton Marlin Mark Anthony Martin Jeremy Allan Mayfield James Christopher McMurray Casey James Mears
2013 Honda Fit EV: Production Model Debuts in L.A.
Introduced at the Los Angeles auto show, the Honda Fit EV joins the Scion iQ, Fiat 500, and Chevy Spark in the tiny-cars-that-have-been-converted-to-run-on-batteries brigade. But the Fit EV?s rollout, set to begin next summer, will be small and contained: Honda expects to produce and distribute only about 1100 of the cars over the next three [...]
Boy Hayje Willi Heeks Nick Heidfeld Theo Helfrich Mack Hellings
Tonio Liuzzi shows his chalky helmet
After sitting out FP1 Tonio Liuzzi will take to the track in FP2 today wearing a unique ‘home made’ design on his helmet. The Italian has had a helmet specially painted with a matt black material that serves as a … Continue reading 
Al Herman Hans Herrmann Franзois Hesnault Hans Heyer Damon Hill
Friday, November 25, 2011
Volkswagen Has No Immediate Plans to Sell Subcompact Models in the U.S.
With virtually every automaker rushing to bring a subcompact model to the U.S. market, you’d think Volkswagen?a company that built its reputation on small, robust cars?would be prepping its Polo and Up! models for sale here. A company executive has informed us, however, that VeeDub has no such plans. “The Golf and Jetta are as [...]
Matthew Roy Kenseth Alan Dennis Kulwicki Travis Wade Kvapil Robert Allen Labonte Terrence Lee Labonte
Keselowski Wins Homestead-Miami NNS Race, Stenhouse is Champion
By Reid Spencer Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service (November 19, 2011) HOMESTEAD, Fla.?Polesitter Brad Keselowski may have won Saturday?s Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, but Roush Fenway Racing had a better night, winning two Nationwide Series championships in one race. Keselowski held off a furious charge from series champion Ricky Stenhouse Jr. on the final [...]
Sterling Burton Marlin Mark Anthony Martin Jeremy Allan Mayfield James Christopher McMurray Casey James Mears
964 Porsche 911 remade by Singer Vehicle Design
Singer Vehicle Design takes one of its creations to the public - Singer restores and remakes classic 911 models on bespoke orders from customers. 
Ruby Tuesday Dodge Carl Edwards Copart Ford Denny Hamlin Z Line Toyota
BBC reveal free-to-air live F1 races for 2012 | 2012 F1 season
The BBC has confirmed which races will be shown free-to-air in the UK in 2012.
Danny Kladis Hans Klenk Peter de Klerk Christian Klien Karl Kling
Send me your questions about F1 2011
Hello all,
I am filming the final 2011 entries for this video blog after next weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix and that means I need your help.
I will be answering a selection of your questions as well as reviewing the season.
So if you have any questions about F1 2011 - whether it be about Red Bull's domination, Sebastian Vettel's superb season, McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, Ferrari and Fernando Alonso, Michael Schumacher, Mercedes and their ambition, or anything else to do with F1 - please do post them below.
We will pick a selection of the best and I will answer them here after the end of the season.
Thanks,
Murray
Kyle Thomas Busch Jeffrey Tyler Burton Richard Allen Craven Kerry Dale Earnhardt Ralph Dale Earnhardt Sr
Will DCP Withstand the Real Estate Lobby Assault on Parking Maximums?
At last week?s Transportation 2030 conference, Real Estate Board of New York Senior Vice President Michael Slattery made clear that his industry wants to eliminate one of the bedrock policies of traffic management in the New York City core. As Streetsblog reported last month, REBNY is mobilizing against the parking maximums which have helped to [...]
William Clyde Elliott Jeffrey Michael Gordon Charles Robert Hamilton IV Charles Robert Hamilton V Kevin Michael Harvick
Ogier joins Volkswagen?s WRC team
Sebastien Ogier will join the Volkswagen team in the World Rally Championship following his exit from Citroen, it was announced on Wednesday. The Frenchman left Citroen a year before of the end of his contract to make way for Finn Mikko Hirvonen, who will partner eight-time world champion Sebastien Loeb from next year. Ogier is joining Volkswagen effective immediately.
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Jenson Button seeks win at second home
Jenson Button arrived in Japan as the last man standing in the fight to stop Sebastian Vettel winning the 2011 title.
To keep his title hopes alive, the McLaren driver has to win this weekend and hope Red Bull's championship leader fails to score a single point.
It is a task almost certainly doomed to fail and Button joked in Suzuka that Vettel was the only person still saying he had a chance to steal a second title from under his nose.
Vettel, who is seeking a third straight pole-to-flag victory in Japan, is the favourite this weekend after taking a mind-boggling 12th pole of the season in Suzuka, but Button lines up second after two days in which McLaren have looked surprisingly competitive.
Button's hopes of victory are very real and, regardless of the championship situation, the 2009 champion has both professional and personal reasons to want to perform well on Sunday.
The day after stepping off the plane from Singapore, where he finished second, Button and his race engineer Dave Robson got to work plotting how to win for the first time at Suzuka.
"I've always loved racing here," Button, whose best finish in Suzuka is third for Honda in 2004, told BBC Sport. "It would mean a lot to me to win here.
"The first year I came here was in 1996 when I raced karts and that was an unbelievable circuit, like the F1 track. Then the first time I came here in Formula 1 in 2000, I qualified fifth and I've finished every year I raced here in Suzuka.
"It's a very special race - I remember watching Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost racing round here wheel-to-wheel - and it does feel like a second home race for me."
Button has been dating Japanese-born Jessica Michibata for three years. Photo: Reuters
McLaren also want Button, or team-mate Lewis Hamilton, to finish as runner-up in the championship and are determined to hold off Ferrari to finish a more lucrative second in the team standings.
With five races left to go, Button leads a compelling battle for second from Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and Red Bull's Mark Webber, and is 17 points ahead of Hamilton.
Beyond points and position, Button, a former Honda driver, is also driven by emotional incentives, not least that he is dating Japanese-born model Jessica Michibata.
"I have a lot of very good connections," said Button, who has in Japanese kanji symbols 'Ichi Ban' - which translates as number one - inked onto his ankle.
"I worked with a Japanese team for seven years, I've had a Japanese girlfriend for the last three and I love this place. I spend a lot of time here in Japan, Kyoto and Hiroshima. I've just been down the coast to a fishing port that has the most amazing sushi.
"I really enjoy the Japanese culture, the food and how respectful the people are and how they welcome other people in. The karaoke is great too - my missus would go to karaoke during the day if she had an hour free, which seems strange to us in Britain!"
In March, while Button was testing in Spain, Michibata was sheltering under a table as an earthquake shook Tokyo.
The after-effects of the tsunami and earthquake, which devastated many coastal parts of island country and killed more than 15,000 people, is another reason why Button wants to race well in front of his Japanese fans.
"It was a really horrible feeling as I couldn't get hold of her," added Button, who, along with Hamilton, is auctioning his race helmet to raise funds for a Japanese charity. "But it was nothing like what the people on the ground were going through.
"Having that connection to Japan it's difficult but I think the Japanese people have shown us how strong they are and how they pull together. They had people going through the rubble and finding things that were worth money and handing them in for charity. I've got a lot of respect for the Japanese people and I think we can learn a lot from them."
Button is hugely popular in Japan and as you wander among the passionate fans in Suzuka many of them are wrapped in British flags or with 'Button' painted on their cheeks and even finger nails.
The English racer might not be able to stop Vettel taking the title in Suzuka but if he can push the German hard for the victory, as he did in Singapore, his efforts will not go unnoticed.
"Japanese people love to celebrate," he added. "Hopefully we can put on a good show for them this weekend and plant a good memory."
Video: Leaky tanker covers PA turnpike in 40 miles of sticky black goo
Drivers on the Pennsylvania Turnpike were met with a sticky surprise Tuesday night after a tanker trunk with a leaky valve spilled between 4,000 and 5,000 gallons of a tar-like goo all over the highway. The spill, initially characterized as tar, was later revealed to be a driveway sealant.
Some 150 cars were disabled as a result of the incident, but fortunately no injuries or serious accidents were reported. Road workers got on the job shortly after the spill, covering the spilt sealant with sand and pushing it off onto the shoulder with snow plows.
The spill affected a 40-mile stretch of the eastbound portion of the turnpike, between New Castle and Oakmont, and principally the right-hand lane. However, some motorists on the scene wondered why officials hadn't closed down the highway completely as they were met with ice-like driving conditions that severely inhibited safe driving. Follow the jump for the video report from the scene.
Continue reading Leaky tanker covers PA turnpike in 40 miles of sticky black goo
Leaky tanker covers PA turnpike in 40 miles of sticky black goo originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsErnst Klodwig Kamui Kobayashi Helmuth Koinigg Heikki Kovalainen Kevin Harvick
'The point of no confidence is quite near'
 The wreckage of Jochen Rindt's car at Barcelona |
?Colin. I have been racing F1 for 5 years and I have made one mistake (I rammed Chris Amon in Clermont Ferrand) and I had one accident in Zandvoort due to gear selection failure otherwise I managed to stay out of trouble. This situation changed rapidly since I joined your team. ?Honestly your cars are so quick that we would still be competitive with a few extra pounds used to make the weakest parts stronger, on top of that I think you ought to spend some time checking what your different employes are doing, I sure the wishbones on the F2 car would have looked different. Please give my suggestions some thought, I can only drive a car in which I have some confidence, and I feel the point of no confidence is quite near.?A little more than a year later Rindt's Lotus suffered mechanical breakdown just before braking into one of the corners. He swerved violently to the left and crashed into a poorly-installed barrier, killing him instantly.
Kurt Thomas Busch Kyle Thomas Busch Jeffrey Tyler Burton Richard Allen Craven Kerry Dale Earnhardt
Thursday, November 24, 2011
De La Rosa quits McLaren for 2012 HRT seat
Pedro de la Rosa has left his role as McLaren third driver to take up a seat at HRT for 2012. The Spaniard, who turned 40 earlier this year, has signed a two-year deal with the team. In theory Tonio … Continue reading 
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Arrest warrant for WRC chief Antonov
World Rally Championship commercial chief Vladimir Antonov is being pursued by a Europe-wide arrest warrant. Prosecutors in Lithuania were granted the warrant in an attempt to further their investigations into the suspected misappropriation of funds from Snoras Bank, of which Antonov is a 68 per cent share holder.
Brian Henton Johnny Herbert Al Herman Hans Herrmann Franзois Hesnault
HRT working on new Spanish base
HRT is finalising plans to move its operation to Spain, having already established a temporary home in Valencia. Until now the team’s operations have been based near Munich, where Colin Kolles has an HQ. ?We?ve never denied that one of … Continue reading 
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Stewart can thank Burton for title (Yahoo! Sports)
Without Jeff Burtons help, Carl Edwards – not Tony Stewart – would be the 2011 Sprint Cup champion.
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SX: 11 Supercross Races Live On SPEED In '12
The 2012 Monster Energy Supercross television package, which includes 11 live broadcasts on SPEED, has been announced.
William Ashton Lewis Jr Sterling Burton Marlin Mark Anthony Martin Jeremy Allan Mayfield James Christopher McMurray
Muller: Grid system key in slow start
World Touring Car champion Yvan Muller said he allowed himself to become spooked by the series' new qualifying format in early 2011, and that this impaired his form at the start of his title defence. Muller did not win a race until round eight in Hungary, as Chevrolet team-mate Rob Huff built up an initial points advantage. But the 2010 champion fought back with eight wins in the remaining events and managed to retain his crown.
TURKEY - DAY
I am going to make this short and sweet . I wish the staff and crew of SCALE AUTO and the members of this great forum a HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY !! I hope to be the one that says ,Thanks to the man upstairs for my fellow modelers, that,s a darn fine group to be part of .You all be safe and don,t eat to much , May your team you are rooting for win . I am thankful for all the hours and bad grammer you all have put up with . I wish I had the bank account of someone like BILL GATES . You know why ? I would send my plane (planes? ) anywhere and everywhere to have you all spend thanksgiving with me and mine , after you are all like family to me.I am thankful that you don,t have my problems to deal with this time of the year .You keep me going just by being here for me .That is what I am thankful for !! Catchya FRIDAY oldcarguy
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Will DCP Withstand the Real Estate Lobby Assault on Parking Maximums?
At last week?s Transportation 2030 conference, Real Estate Board of New York Senior Vice President Michael Slattery made clear that his industry wants to eliminate one of the bedrock policies of traffic management in the New York City core. As Streetsblog reported last month, REBNY is mobilizing against the parking maximums which have helped to [...]
Narain Karthikeyan Ukyo Katayama Ken Kavanagh Rupert Keegan Eddie Keizan
1/25th scale "Blue Flame" decals
looking for "BLUE FLAME" decals for a 53 corvette project I'm doing. Anyone know where I could score a set, or is this something I'd have to try and make? Thanks in advance
Walt Hansgen Mike Harris Cuth Harrison Brian Hart Gene Hartley
F1: Kubica Rules Himself Out Of Start Of 2012
Chael Sonnen accepts Anderson Silva's terms: "Brazil it is"
Chael Sonnen has been on a one man mission to do anything he can to goad UFC Middleweight champion Anderson Silva into a fight. He’s made disparaging remarks about him, his country and his wife, he’s called Silva out in the middle of the Octagon in hopes that Silva would take a fight with him in Las Vegas on Super Bowl weekend and for the most part, Silva has taken the high road.
Silva’s tone on the subject changed recently when he, speaking to MMANation.com, said, "I don't like this guy.
Robert Kubica says he won't be ready to return to the F1 grid by the time the 2012 season rolls around...
Mercedes and Renault-Nissan Alliance: What to Expect in the U.S.
DaimlerChrysler?s efforts to integrate with Mitsubishi and Hyundai to create a “global number one” in the 1990s resulted in catastrophic damage to Chrysler and Mitsubishi. The chemistry between Daimler and Chrysler never worked out, and Chrysler was finally dumped and left stranded with incredibly uncompetitive products. Financial firm Cerberus Capital Management took over in 2007 [...]
Bobby Grim Romain Grosjean Olivier Grouillard Brian Gubby Andrй Guelfi
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