Automotive News

Filed under: Coupes, Green, Audi

click above image for photo gallery

The A5 is Audi’s latest salvo in its battle to rule the luxury automotive landscape, and the German automaker is putting its technical might behind the launch. The A5 was launched in June in Europe, and now two all-new six cylinder engines are under the svelte coupe’s bonnet. Audi’s 3.2L engine isn’t all-new, but direct injection and variable lift control have been updated to produce an impressive 265 hp. The 3.2L will be available in the U.S. at launch this fall.

In Europe, oil-burning engines are necessary to compete in any significant segment, and Audi is packing its common-rail fuel injected 2.7L turbo-diesel under the A5’s hood. The engine produces 190 hp, which is enough grunt to get the diesel A5 to 62 mph in 7.6 seconds. It also returns 35.3 mpg! As is the case with all euro diesel powerplants, U.S. customers likely won’t be able to check that option for a while, if ever.

[Source: Audi]

Continue reading Two new engines for the Audi A5

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

Buy any word or phrase on this site and thousands of others using Phrase Links™

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety

A recent Harris Poll found that an overwhelming 91% of Americans think it’s unsafe to text message while driving. In fact, they think it’s just as bad as driving after a couple of drinks, and 89% even think it should be outlawed. But that didn’t stop a full 57% of them from admitting that they have still done it.

The same Harris Interactive survey — commissioned by Pinger, Inc., a messaging service — found that 66% of adults surveyed read their text messages or e-mails while driving. The survey also found that younger drivers, not surprisingly, were much more likely to TWD. So far only Washington state has passed a law banning texting while driving (TWD), although New York, California and Florida among others are considering similar legislation.

[Source: Reuters]

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

Click here to advertise on thousands of blogs including mine

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Ford

Ford’s been working with studios to get its product featured in films for years, one of the first being the original Batmobile. But the automaker has now teamed with Our Stories Films to target minorities with the production company’s family-themed movies.

Under the agreement, Ford will be able to examine scripts for product placement opportunities, and will even get to make script-change suggestions. Ford will also integrate promotion of the films into its Web sites, fordurban.com and lincolnlounge.com.

Our Stories Films was created by BET founder Robert Johnson and producers Bob and Harvey Weinstein. According to IMDB, the company’s first film is the current box office blockbuster (watch the sarcarsm, it’s dripping) “Who’s Your Caddy?” and features Ford’s Range Rover co-starring with Big Boi and Andy Milonakis.

>”We are all grappling with our numbers in this audience,” said Marc Perry, multicultural marketing manager at Ford/Lincoln, in a Brandweek article. “We know that we can do better than what we are doing and this opportunity allows us to go after a targeted audience. It’s African-Americans in urban centers. This arrangement helps by allowing us to cast both characters and vehicles, and with our imaging onscreen.” Sigh… kind of sucks the whole artistic angle right out of filmmaking.

[Source: Brandweek, IMDB]

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

Click here to advertise on thousands of blogs including mine

Filed under: Safety, Tech, Nissan

Not too many years ago, Audi got into a big mess with cars that were accused of having accelerator pedals with minds of their own. Nissan now says it has developed a system that gives its cars’ gas pedals the ability to think, and it sounds pretty smart.

In conjunction with a frontal radar system and onboard computer, the car can tell when it’s getting too close to a vehicle or object in front of it and lifts the gas pedal in response, which is supposed to alert the driver to impending danger. If the driver agrees and lifts his foot off the pedal, the system applies the brakes and brings the car to a complete stop. If the driver continues to push the pedal down, the system won’t interfere and car plus driver will continue on to meet their fate together.

The system will be available this year in Japan, and reportedly next year on U.S. spec cars. The smart pedal system is part of a big technology/safety push within Nissan that also includes its anti-drunk driving system and pedestrian-friendly hood we’ve shown you before.

[Source: Detroit News]

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

Click here to advertise on thousands of blogs including mine

Filed under: Etc., Volkswagen

Coinciding with the launch of the new Bourne Ultimatum movie, Volkswagen has launched an interactive stunt simulator that allows fans to play out their own stunts online as many times as they want. Users can maneuver any of six different VW models through different explosions, while altering vehicle speeds, props, sound effects and camera angles to make that perfect scene.

Product placement in the movie has several VW vehicles making an appearance, including the Touareg 2 SUV and Golf GTI, a smart move seeing that The Bourne Ultimatum has grossed more than $70 million in its first weekend. That’s a hell of lot of viewers seeing VW’s new models up on the big screen.

[Source: Bourne Simulator]

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

Create Instant Buzz

Filed under: Auction Action, Etc.

On October 31st in Battersea Park, London, RM Auctions will be selling 50 cars from the private collection of Bernie Ecclestone at the Automobiles of London auction. What kind of cars does the notoriously particular F1 supremo collect: among the lot are a 1933 Marmon Sixteen Victoria Coupe, 1950 Ferrari 250 GT Europa Mk II (shown above), 1937 Mercedes 540 K Cabriolet B worth $7 million, 1933 Lancia Astura Roadster, and the obligatory 300 SL Gullwing. And because you just never know where Bernie’s coming from, there’s also a 1964 Ford Anglia.

The sale is expected to raise about 15 million pounds, which is the parking meter fund for a guy worth 3 billion pounds. According to his biographer, Ecclestone turns 77 in October, and perhaps “believes it’s time to tidy up some of his private assets.” Check out RM Auctions for more on the sale.

[Source: Pistonheads]

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

Create Instant Buzz

Filed under: Motorsports, Marketing/Advertising, Dodge

Not that there was a lot of speculation about Dodge possibly dropping out, but Dodge’s senior manager for motorsports, Mike Deahanty, says the brands presence in NASCAR will remain under Chrysler’s new ownership by Cerberus Capital Management. Petty Enterprises and Evernham Motorsports have both renewed their contracts with Dodge.

Top Speed, however, says sponsorship for the Evernham team, which currently includes Dodge dealers and the United Auto Workers, could change, with Budweiser rumored to be interested in paying Kasey Kahne to wear its red livery.

So rest easy, NASCAR Dodge fans. You’ll still be able to see Dodge Chargers (or at least machines with Charger written across the nose) roaring around in circles.

[Source: Top Speed]

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

Create Instant Buzz

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedans/Saloons, Nissan

Nissan just sent out pricing information on its 2008 Altima Sedan, which is already at Nissan dealers across the country. The best-selling car in Nissan’s stable, the Altima was completely redesigned last year and receives only modest changes for ‘08. But that hasn’t stopped the inevitable price hikes. But before you protest, understand that the price increases are quite modest ($280 on 4-cylinder models, $80 on the V6) and include some additional equipment. On SLs, the price actually dropped $120. The now-standard Anti-lock ABS alone used to be a $300 option. Pricing for the Coupe and Hybrid, however, weren’t included in this release.

[Source: Nissan]

Continue reading Nissan ups MSRP on 2008 Altima Sedan

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

Blog advertising

Filed under: Time Warp, Japan, Supercars

click above image for more views of the Dome Zero

What do you get when you mix Japan’s burgeoning fortunes as an automaker in the 1970s along with a passel of frustrated racers? One of the first Japanese supercars, that’s what. The Dome Zero’s road to the 1978 Geneva Motor Show was paved with broken marriages, infrequent bathing schedules, and a nearly impossible deadline. It sounds like an episode of Monster Garage, now that we think about it. The wedgy, Italian-esque body evokes the finest work of the House of Nuccio. Power came from a Datsun inline six, offering a power to weight ratio on par with Porsches of the day.

[Source: Dome.co.jp via grandJDM.com]

Continue reading The Japanese supercar that almost was - the Dome Zero

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

Click here to advertise on the Worlds largest Blog Advertising Network

Filed under: Motorsports, Sports/GTs, Porsche

click image above to view video of the drifting Porsche in action

While the mere mention of drifting usually brings about a chorus of ridicule from many directions around here, I have to admit that I enjoy watching the pro guys do their thing. I say this because I know that if asked to go out and do the exact same thing in an identically-prepared car, I would promptly put it into the wall. So I appreciate the skill involved, and honestly, how can you not be at least a little jealous of people whose job…JOB…is to light ‘em up and hang the tail out in as flashy a manner as possible. Seriously. God bless America. To that extent, follow the jump for video of Tyler McQuarrie’s Hankook Porsche 993 GT2 doing its drift thing. If it looks more fun than your job, it’s probably because it is.

[Source: YouTube via DriftLive.com]

Continue reading Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em: Hankook Porsche 993 GT2 drifter struts its stuff

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

Click here to advertise on thousands of blogs including mine