Archive for March, 2011
Spy Shots: 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK AMG
Posted on 31. Mar, 2011 by admin.
The new 2012 SLK is on the loose, revealed at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show, but we’re still waiting for the AMG variant. From the looks of it, we won’t have to wait much longer, as these spy shots add to those captured last summer, bringing the car’s shape into sharper focus as it loses some of the previous camouflage. According to the spy…
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2012 Kia Rio Sedan Coming To New York Auto Show
Posted on 31. Mar, 2011 by admin.
High Gear Media’s own Joel Feder is on the ground in Phoenix at a Kia event today, and he tells us that Kia has confirmed the new Rio sedan will be on display at the 2011 New York Auto Show. We don’t know the details on what to expect here in the U.S.–that’s being saved for the show–but we can work with the figures of the Rio hatchback for some…
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2013 Ford Fiesta ST To Pack 180-HP EcoBoost Engine?
Posted on 31. Mar, 2011 by admin.
We’ve seen the spy shots of Ford’s upcoming pint-sized powerhouse, the Fiesta ST. With a turbo four-cylinder under the hood, an aggressive look, and an automotive Napoleon complex, it’s potentially the most interesting hot hatch on the near horizon. Today’s rumor mill has ground out a tidbit that makes it even more tempting: output of 180…
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Men Ignore GPS Directions More Often Than Women
Posted on 31. Mar, 2011 by admin.
Men are more likely to ignore GPS directions than women are, according to a recent survey. While only 63% of women disobey navigation-directed commands on a regular basis, 83% of men disregard them, according to Swinton, a British insurance company.
For either gender, the number is high — combined, some 79% of motorists are disobeying commands. The reasoning behind the disregard is because motorists either perceive the devices as incorrect or less efficient than alternative ways of reaching a destination. Many motorists report that the navigation-lead directions are wrong all together. We’ve also experienced wrong-headed directions before in our Navigation challenge. Overall, one in five drivers say their navigation systems lead them 1 to 5 miles out of their way.
“A sat nav should aid your own navigational abilities rather than replace them,” Steve Chelton, Swinton’s insurance development manager, told Reuters.
Men more likely to overrule satnavs than women (Reuters, Via Consumer Reports)
Related
Survey Shows Most In-Car Arguments Are Over Directions
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Tesla vs. TopGear: Only Half Of The Story
Posted on 31. Mar, 2011 by admin.
Electric car maker Tesla is suing U.K. hit TV show TopGear for libel and malicious falsehood, seeking to right the record about its Roadster electric sports car, which the company thinks was treated unfairly by the sometimes witty, sometimes boorish hosts of the show. Unfortunately, this is no David & Goliath story, and there is no clear moral…
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Chevrolet Reveals Mi-ray Roadster Concept
Posted on 31. Mar, 2011 by admin.
While just a design concept, the Mi-ray roadster gives subtle hints of Chevrolet’s future design language and possible future powertrains.
The Mi-ray, which means “future” in Korean, offers a sneak peek at Chevrolet’s design vision, according to General Motors. Many reinterpretations of common Chevy design cues appear up front. The dual-port grill remains, but now there are large pronounced front fenders that house L-shaped LED daytime headlights along their leading front edges. Around back, individual cargo cubbyholes over each rear fender can store small items. Overall, the front is reminiscent of the Audi R8 or Audi’s most recent e-Tron concept.
Besides the vehicle’s styling, the powertrain is also something we haven’t seen from Chevy before. The vehicle features a mid-engine design: A turbocharged 1.5-liter engine is mated to a dual-clutch transmission, and a start-stop system powers the rear wheels. Up front, two separate electric motors are powered by a small 1.6-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery that is charged via regenerative braking. The powertrain as a whole is somewhere between the Chevrolet Volt’s EV system and the new Buick LaCrosse eAssist mild hybrid system, in terms of sophistication. The entire vehicle is made out of carbon fiber or carbon fiber with reinforced plastics to reduce the vehicle’s weight.
Those are the highlights. For more details, you can check out GM’s full press release. Make sure to check out more photos below.
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Video: Chubby Guy Dances In Pickup, Karma Quickly Evens The Score
Posted on 31. Mar, 2011 by admin.
John Lennon might not have envisioned this scenario when he wrote Instant Karma! but the rule still applies: this guy subjected the public to a show no one should have to watch while stuck in traffic, and quickly paid the karmic price. Karma didn’t knock him right in the head, but it did knock him right out of the bed. If you’re sensitive to bad…
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Video: McLaren F1 Replica… That Actually Looks Good
Posted on 31. Mar, 2011 by admin.
The McLaren F1 is without doubt one of the greatest supercars of all time, even to this day, almost 21 years since the first one was launched. Unfortunately, during its lifetime, only 72 road-legal F1 cars were ever built, eight of these being impossible-to-get special editions. With such a pedigree, it’s safe to say finding one for sale on…
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470-HP Hemi 392-Powered Jeep Wrangler In The Works?
Posted on 31. Mar, 2011 by admin.
Michael Manley, Jeep president and CEO, apparently has had a 6.4-liter Hemi 392 V-8 engine dropped into a Jeep Wrangler by American Expedition Vehicles for “executive evaluation” of a possible future production vehicle. We like the idea, just as we did in 2007 when Jeep unveiled the Wrangler Ultimate concept. Of course, those with even longer…
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Recall Alert: 2011 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid
Posted on 31. Mar, 2011 by admin.
Volkswagen is recalling 256 2011 Touareg Hybrids over incorrect tire pressure labeling, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The labels on the affected vehicles display the incorrect tire pressure information — it’s 2 pounds per square inch too low for the front tires and 1 psi too low for the rear tires. The incorrect info could cause an owner to improperly follow vehicle loading specifications and increase the risk of a crash.
The recall will begin on or before April 29. Dealers will install a new sticker that displays the correct tire pressure information, free of charge. For more information, owners can call Volkswagen at 800-822-8987 or NHTSA’s vehicle safety hotline at 888-327-4236.
