Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/other-news/touring-cars/btcc/collard-leads-opening-btcc-practice
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Collard leads opening BTCC practice
Rob Collard topped the first British Touring Car session of 2012 with his turbocharged WSR BMW at Brands Hatch on Saturday morning. Rob Austin's rear-wheel-drive NGTC Audi A4 set the pace in the early part of the session before the BMW, now running a Neil Brown-prepared turbo unit for the first time, set a time of 48.932s.
2013 Ford Explorer Sport: The Closest Thing to an Explorer SHO
Ford is adding a new, sportier model to the 2013 Explorer lineup called, appropriately, the Sport. (Blue Oval utility freaks should note that this is still based on the regular four-door, three-row body style, and isn’t a revival of the old two-door Explorer of the ’90s and 2000s.) After scanning the Sport’s particulars, however, we’re [...]
New Ram Truck Teased Before Debut, We Expect Refreshed Ram 1500 [New York Auto Show]
The official debut of a new Ram truck—probably an updated 2013 Ram 1500, which should adopt the Pentastar V-6 and an eight-speed automatic—has been announced for next week’s New York auto show. To whet appetites, Ram released this image of an extreme close-up of the new truck’s chrome-y countenance. From this photo, it appears that [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/4pr3WA2GzA4/
Emmanuel de Graffenried Lucas di Grassi Cecil Green Keith Greene
Hirvonen consolidates Portugal lead
Mikko Hirvonen continues to lead the Rally of Portugal for Citroen, despite Mads Ostberg's best efforts to catch him.
Trevor Bayne Out! Pet Care Toyota Jason Leffler David Carl Allison
Audi R8 LMS ultra to fight for World Champion's title in 2012
AUDI Motorsport Ingolstadt, December 20, 2011 - GT1 World Championship to be held with GT3 cars in 2012 - Team WRT from Belgium is set on battling for championship - Two new Audi R8 LMS ultra cars on the grid...
Source: http://www.motorsportsjournal.com/archives/2011/12/audi_r8_lms_ultra_to_figh.php
Jean Marc Gounon Emmanuel de Graffenried Lucas di Grassi Cecil Green
Teams expect rough Portugal stages
The stages on this week's Rally of Portugal will be among the roughest of the season following a long dry winter in the Algarve area.
Molina out to ‘attract attention’
Miguel Molina is sure his performances can "attract attention" this year after switching from Audi's Abt Sportsline squad to the Phoenix Racing team that guided Martin Tomczyk to last year's DTM title. Molina, 23, took a pair of pole positions last year in an old-spec A4 run by Abt, and became the first Spaniard to finish on a DTM podium at the Hockenheim season-opener. He said that the buoyant atmosphere within the Phoenix squad left him in no doubt that he can improve his level of consistency and finish far higher than the 11th place he managed in last year's championship
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/other-news/miscellaneous/dtm/molina-out-to-attract-attention
Official: Tonio Liuzzi heading home to Itay's Superstars series with Mercedes AMG
Filed under: Motorsports, Sedan, Europe, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Mercedes-Benz, Racing
Italy's Superstars Series may have seemed like an insignificant championship in the past, but drivers and manufacturers alike are beginning to take notice of what is rapidly emerging as Italy's equivalent of Germany's DTM, Japan's Super GT or Australia's V8 Supercars series. One of those drivers is Tonio Liuzzi, and one of those manufacturers is Mercedes-Benz.
The German automaker had been represented in the series before, but is now launching an officially factory-sanctioned works effort with a specially-prepared C63 AMG touring car fielded by Caal Racing. And it has lined up an experienced driving talent to man the wheel.
A veteran of 80 grands prix, Vitantonio Liuzzi has driven for Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Force India and HRT, but unfortunately failed to distinguish himself with a single podium finish, pole position or fastest lap in the span of his six years in Formula One. Prior to ascending to the pinnacle of motorsports, he had won the International Formula 3000 championship, and has also tried his hand at A1GP (representing Italy) as well as the Speedcar Series (a stock car series held briefly in the Middle East).
Will he prove himself a greater talent in touring cars than he did in F1? We'll have to wait and see, but given the factory support in a privateer-dominated series and the number of championships Caal Racing has won, things are looking up for Liuzzi and Mercedes. Follow the jump for the official announcement (in Italian) and check out the batch of official high-resolution images in the gallery above.
Continue reading Tonio Liuzzi heading home to Itay's Superstars series with Mercedes AMG
Tonio Liuzzi heading home to Itay's Superstars series with Mercedes AMG originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Mar 2012 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/30/tonio-liuzzi-heading-home-to-itays-superstars-series-with-merce/
David Carl Allison Gregory Jack Biffle David Lee Blaney Michael Duane Bliss
Friday, March 30, 2012
Today’s Headlines
Chris Quinn Hails Unanimous Vote to Make Life Easier for Parking Scofflaws (NYT, DNA, GoGa)
State Transportation Money Carved Up According to Politics, Not Strategic Goals (Capital)
Lhota Non-Committal on Gridlock Sam Plan, But Thinks Toll Talk Is Here to Stay (TransNat)
Cuomo Milks MTA Debt Deal, Touting Upstate Jobs (Capital)
TSTC: Transit-Free Tappan Zee Won’t Meet Stated Mobility Criteria [...]
State Transportation Money Carved Up According to Politics, Not Strategic Goals (Capital)
Lhota Non-Committal on Gridlock Sam Plan, But Thinks Toll Talk Is Here to Stay (TransNat)
Cuomo Milks MTA Debt Deal, Touting Upstate Jobs (Capital)
TSTC: Transit-Free Tappan Zee Won’t Meet Stated Mobility Criteria [...]
Source: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/03/29/todays-headlines-1356/
Helm Glöckler Paco Godia Carel Godin de Beaufort Christian Goethals
Loeb backs revised tyre WRC rules
Sebastien Loeb has praised the change of tyre usage regulations for this season's World Rally Championship - stating that last season's rules were dangerous. On certain rounds of this year's WRC, the crews are permitted 10 tyres which can be used in exceptional conditions
LeMons Good/Bad Idea of the Week: Two-Stroke Miata!
Dropping a Chrysler slant-six engine into an E30 BMW 3-series is a very bad idea, and yet perfect for the 24 Hours of LeMons. We thought it would be hard to top that ill-advised engine swap, but a gang of wild-eyed California fabricators cooked up something even better (that is, even worse) for last weekend’s [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/h_BTA2h_c8M/
Georges Grignard Bobby Grim Romain Grosjean Olivier Grouillard
Stoneman to join F2 Silverstone test
2010 Formula 2 champion Dean Stoneman will continue his recovery from testicular cancer by returning to the series for the first of its two pre-season tests at Silverstone on Wednesday 28 March. The Briton won the 2010 crown following a season-long battle with Jolyon Palmer, his six wins and 13 podiums enough to earn him the prize Williams F1 test drive.
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/stoneman-to-join-f2-silverstone-test
France moves closer to F1 return
The French Grand Prix's return to the Formula 1 calendar is expected to move a step closer on Friday, with the country's Prime Minister Francois Fillon planning to make an announcement at Paul Ricard about the event. On the back of months of talks about a return of the French GP, which has been absent from the F1 schedule since 2008, media have been invited to the circuit in the south of France for a press conference to talk about the future of the race. Fillon will be joined by Hubert Falco, president of the local Toulon province.
Patrick Gaillard Divina Galica Nanni Galli Oscar Alfredo Gálvez
Photos: 2012 Sunday at Auto Club Speedway
PHOTO CREDIT: NASCARMEDIA (USED WITH PERMISSION)
Source: http://thefinallap.com/2012/03/25/photos-2012-sunday-at-auto-club-speedway/
Missed opportunities at VIR
Having survived the thrills of last week’s race at Zandvoort, members of the Red Sox Racing League returned to the United States for week eleven of the 2012 Season One schedule where the rolling hills of the Virginia International Raceway (VIR) hosted the 18 lap “Oak Tree Tavern 30 at VIR Full”. VIR has been hosting races since 1957. It features a 3.27 mile, 17 corner layout which can exhaust even the most seasoned road course drivers. Texas native and winner of the 1959 24 Hours of Le Mans, Carroll Shelby described VIR this way. “One lap at VIR is like a hundred at Watkins Glen”. RSR drivers would likely agree with that assessment, as many learned the hard way that 50+ years of racing have not tamed the track. [...]
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/iracing-news/missed-opportunities-at-vir
Raikkonen eager for ‘normal’ weekend
Kimi Raikkonen says he is eager to have a 'normal' grand prix weekend to figure out where Lotus stands, after adding a fifth place at Sepang to his seventh-place finish in Melbourne.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Official: 12-passenger 2012 Nissan NV priced from $31,690*
Filed under: Car Buying, Minivan/Van, Nissan
Nissan will slowly be expanding its commercial vehicle lineup here in the United States, and the next product to hit dealerships is this 2012 NV3500 passenger van. Pricing has now officially been set, with the base 12-passenger NV3500 carrying an MSRP of $31,690 (*not including destination charges). Tick every option box on the NV configurator and a fully decked-out NV3500 SL V8 with leather and navigation will run you just shy of $40,000.
The NV passenger van is mechanically the same as its cargo van kin, meaning power comes from either a 4.0-liter V6 with 261 horsepower and 281 pound-feet of torque or a 5.6-liter V8 with 317 hp and 385 lb-ft of twist. Both engines are mated exclusively to a heavy-duty five-speed automatic transmission and only send power to the NV's rear wheels. Inside, the NV3500 boasts all the creature comforts of any passenger vehicle, including a touch-screen infotainment system, lots of storage space and mobile office capability.
Following the launch of the NV3500 passenger van, Nissan will bring the smaller NV200 - the Taxi of Tomorrow, for those of you keeping track - to market. All in, Nissan aims to have a full line of commercial vehicles on sale here in the U.S. within the next few years.
Continue reading 12-passenger 2012 Nissan NV priced from $31,690*
12-passenger 2012 Nissan NV priced from $31,690* originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/29/12-passenger-2012-nissan-nv-priced-from-31-690/
25 Cars Worth Waiting For: The Choicest Rides Arriving in the Next Four Years
We’ve worked the phones, lit up our e-mail accounts, and tapped our sources to deliver intelligence on the hottest vehicles in the pipeline. They’re all here, including Chevy’s secretive C7 Corvette, the next BMW M3, the ninth-generation Honda Accord, and many, many more. Read on to get the inside scoop on the 25 cars most [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/4WFkggR9hYc/25-cars-worth-waiting-for-feature
Toyota and BMW Move Forward Developing Lithium-Ion Batteries
Toyota and BMW today announced that they have begun developing next-generation lithium-ion batteries for use in hybrid-electric and full-electric vehicles. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding back in December—essentially an agreement that they’d work on a formal contract—and now have entered into that formal agreement. In addition to working together on battery development, BMW [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/DO70-uStX5k/
American Planning Association Chapter Demolishes Cuomo Tappan Zee Claims
The New York area’s urban planning community issued a striking rebuke to the Cuomo administration over its plans for a new Tappan Zee Bridge last week. In a letter to the state Department of Transportation [PDF], the regional chapter of the American Planning Association, which represents 1,200 professional planners, challenged the Cuomo administration’s claims about [...]
Floyd Anthony Raines Scott Russell Riggs Hiroshi Fushida Beppe Gabbiani
Hauck Tops at MIS
Week Eight of Season One 2012 saw the NASCAR iRacing.com Class B Series travel to one of the longest ovals in the US of A. A two mile, high-banked oval located in Cambridge Township, Michigan International Speedway is known for very high speeds as well as exciting racing. During the week, 903 sim racers entered at least one online race while 288 of them turned one or more qualifying laps. Thursday’s SoF race took place at 8:30pm EST and had 25 drivers make the race. Phil Juhring (New Jersey) continued his hot streak as he qualified on the pole for the race but was quickly passed by Brandon Hauck (Eastern Canada), who started in second. Hauck would dominate the race, leading 83 of the 90 laps in route to the [...]
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/nascar-news/hauck-tops-at-mis
Lefevre Lawsuit Could Loosen NYPD Grip on Crash Information
The lawsuit filed by the family of Mathieu Lefevre against NYPD could change police procedure in the aftermath of fatal crashes, making it easier for grieving relatives to access crucial information.
Photo by Chieu-Anh Le Van via Support Justice for Mathieu Lefevre
Lefevre was hit by the driver of a crane truck making a right turn at [...]
Photo by Chieu-Anh Le Van via Support Justice for Mathieu Lefevre
Lefevre was hit by the driver of a crane truck making a right turn at [...]
Source: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/03/27/lefevre-lawsuit-could-loosen-nypd-grip-on-crash-information/
Richie Ginther Yves Giraud Cabantous Ignazio Giunti Timo Glock
Barrichello content with debut
Rubens Barrichello described his IndyCar debut in St Petersburg as 'enjoyable', despite running out of fuel near the end of the race. The Formula 1 veteran looked to be on target for a 13th-place finish before his fuel problem relegated him to 17th, but he said that his first taste of IndyCar racing was a good experience nevertheless.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
2013 Aston Martin DB9 Spied: More Aggressive Styling for Aston’s Middle Child
What It Is: A thinly camouflaged example of the next-generation Aston Martin DB9. (Our most recent spy shots of the next DB9 were of a more heavily covered car.) The DB9 is Aston’s two-door middle child, slotting between the “entry level” Vantage and the more-powerful DB9-based DBS. This family tree recently grew with the addition [...]
Rally Portugal to water night stages
The organisers of the Rally of Portugal will water Thursday night's three dark stages in an effort to contain the dust problem on this fourth round of the World Rally Championship. Dark stages on warm gravel rallies have historically caused problems with hanging dust and when the Acropolis Rally included one night-time test last year, the WRC crews were up in arms, accusing the Greek organisers of putting their safety at risk
Trevor Bayne Out! Pet Care Toyota Jason Leffler David Carl Allison
Perez remaining realistic after Malaysia
Sergio Perez is not get carried away with his brilliant performance in the Malaysian Grand Prix, but still thinks his maiden victory could be just around the corner. The Sauber driver challenged Fernando Alonso hard for a race win in Sepang, but lost his chance when he ran wide near the end of the race - handing his Ferrari rival enough of a buffer at the front to hold on until the chequered flag. But although he was the quickest man on track in Sepang, Perez does not believes this marks the start of a regular push for victory at forthcoming races
Juan Pablo Montoya Joseph Francis Nemechek III Ryan Joseph Newman Kyle Eugene Petty
Toyota Sketches Out 2013 Avalon [New York Auto Show]
Just in time for dinner in Boca Raton, Toyota has released a sketch of the next-gen Avalon. The cushy sedan will debut next week at the New York auto show. Just as we saw in recent photos of a prototype 2013 Avalon undergoing testing, the Avalon in the sketch has a generously sloped rear roofline and [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/f_flGc3d3mk/
Photos: 2012 Saturday at Auto Club Speedway
PHOTO CREDIT: NASCARMEDIA USED WITH PERMISSION
Source: http://thefinallap.com/2012/03/25/photos-2012-saturday-at-auto-club-speedway/
Button: Karthikeyan crash my fault
Jenson Button accepted complete blame for the collision with Narain Karthikeyan that cost him a shot at Malaysian Grand Prix victory. The Melbourne winner looked set to emerge in the race lead, ahead of Sergio Perez, Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton, after timing his change to intermediate tyres perfectly at the restart following the red flag. But while trying to fight back through the cars that had not pitted yet, Button slid into Karthikeyan's HRT and damaged his McLaren's front wing, forcing an extra pitstop.
Peter Gethin Piercarlo Ghinzani Bruno Giacomelli Dick Gibson
Razia wins GP2 season opener
Luiz Razia opened his fourth GP2 season with a race victory in Malaysia, as a slow start left Sepang polesitter Davide Valsecchi to settle for second. Brazilian driver Razia's win was his first since the 2009 Monza sprint race, and his Arden team's first triumph since the 2010 series opener.
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/other-news/formula-cars/gp2/razia-wins-gp2-season-opener
Nine Racing To Feature Three Cars At Chili Bowl Midget Nationals
Nine Racing Inc. Brownsburg, Indiana January 4, 2012 Nine Racing, Inc. is pleased to announce the signing of three excellent drivers for the 26th annual Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals Presented by General Tire midget event that will take place...
Source: http://www.motorsportsjournal.com/archives/2012/01/nine_racing_to_feature_th.php
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Young driver test could be in Britain
Formula 1 teams are weighing up the idea of running this year's young driver test at Silverstone in the week after the British Grand Prix, AUTOSPORT has learned. The annual three-day run has taken place for the past two years, and is a chance for teams to try out young talent that would not otherwise get the opportunity to drive F1 machinery. Although the original idea was for the test to take place at the end of the season, as it did in 2010, last year it happened after the penultimate event in Abu Dhabi because teams did not want to stay on in Brazil after the finale.
Dieter Gass to reinforce Audi Sport
AUDI Motorsport Ingolstadt, December 19, 2011 - New position: Head of Racing Commitments - Engineer is returning to Audi family - Experience from eleven years in Formula One Audi is tackling the 2012 motor sport season with an extended leadership...
Source: http://www.motorsportsjournal.com/archives/2011/12/dieter_gass_to_reinforce.php
Webber says inters stint cost him
Mark Webber admitted that he took too long to get up to speed on intermediate tyres after only finishing fourth in the Malaysian Grand Prix. Red Bull was unable to fight for victory at Sepang, with Webber only moving up to fourth when his team-mate Sebastian Vettel relinquished the position late on having sustained a puncture in contact with Narain Karthikeyan's HRT.
First Drive: 2013 Infiniti JX [w/video]
Filed under: Crossover, Infiniti, First Drives, Luxury
Plugging A Hole With A Seven-Passenger Synthetic Cork
Consumers looking for a sports coupe, sports sedan, sporty five-passenger crossover, luxury five-passenger crossover, trailer-capable SUV, sporty convertible or hybrid luxury sedan have been able to drive out of Infiniti showrooms very satisfied. The automaker offers a well-curated family of vehicles for each of these genres, without question.
However, affluent families seeking an import luxury seven-passenger crossover - without a traditional truck lineage - have been forced to shop elsewhere. Many of Infiniti's missed opportunities end up holding keys to an Acura MDX, Audi Q7 or Volvo XC90. Aiming to close a gaping leak in its product range, Infiniti officially introduced the world to its all-new JX crossover at the Los Angeles Auto Show just a few months ago.
The new arrival has been engineered to "excel in the areas that luxury crossover buyers desire most - interior flexibility and roominess, safety, and advanced hospitality features," says Infiniti. But to us, some of those qualities seem to stray from the company's 'Inspired Performance' tagline. Intrigued by the new arrival, we climbed aboard an airliner and flew to Charleston, South Carolina, for an introduction and test drive of the JX crossover.
Continue reading 2013 Infiniti JX [w/video]
2013 Infiniti JX [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/27/2013-infiniti-jx-first-drive-review/
Brian Gubby André Guelfi Miguel Ángel Guerra Roberto Guerrero
Raikkonen eager for ‘normal’ weekend
Kimi Raikkonen says he is eager to have a 'normal' grand prix weekend to figure out where Lotus stands, after adding a fifth place at Sepang to his seventh-place finish in Melbourne.
Ferrari Builds a One-Off Berlinetta Boxer Homage—the SP12EC—for Eric Clapton [Updated with Video]
Captured last night by U.K.-based photographer Michael P. Sannwald at H.R. Owen Ferrari Showroom in London, the car you see here, which is clearly channeling the spirit of a 1970s Berlinetta Boxer, is said to be based on a 458 Italia. Sannwald says the staff confirmed that it is Eric Clapton’s car, and referred to [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/xhHKpXOH28I/
Official: BMW recalling 1.3 million 5 and 6 Series models worldwide
Filed under: Coupe, Sedan, Recalls, Safety, BMW, Luxury
BMW has announced it is recalling a whopping 1.3 million 5 Series and 6 Series vehicles from the 2003 to 2010 model years. Of those, Reuters notes that some 368,000 examples were sold in the U.S. - most of them sedans like the one above.
It doesn't sound like too difficult of a problem to fix, but the automaker says the cars' battery cable covers could be incorrectly mounted. BMW says no accidents or injuries have occurred because of the issue, but there is the potential that affected models may fail to start, or worse, catch fire.
Owners will be receiving a letter soon and will be asked to visit a BMW dealer for about a 30-minute repair session.
A company spokesman tells The Wall Street Journal that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been notified. Just 9 months ago, BMW was penalized $3 million for failing to report safety defects to NHTSA quickly enough. It looks like they may have learned their lesson. Read the full press release after the jump.
Continue reading BMW recalling 1.3 million 5 and 6 Series models worldwide
BMW recalling 1.3 million 5 and 6 Series models worldwide originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/26/bmw-recalls-1-3-million-2003-2010-5-and-6-series-models/
Richard Allen Craven Kerry Dale Earnhardt Ralph Dale Earnhardt Sr Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr
Monday, March 26, 2012
Stoner heads Jerez opening day
Casey Stoner topped the opening day of MotoGP's final pre-season test of 2012 at Jerez on Friday. The reigning world champion completed 54 laps on his Honda and set the benchmark time of 1m39.146s on his very last tour, leaving him 0.273s ahead of Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/other-news/motorcycles/motogp/stoner-heads-jerez-opening-day
Loeb says Portugal pace key to year
Sebastien Loeb believes that next week's Rally of Portugal will offer the first meaningful assessment of the season of the pace of his Citroen DS3 WRC against the Ford Fiesta RS WRC. The world champion admitted that he was alarmed at the increase in speed the Ford team showed on the previous gravel outing in Mexico, but said that the lower altitude Faro-based fourth round of the WRC will mean much more. "This is the first rally where we will really be able to gauge the relative strengths of the crews," said Loeb.
Why Bicyclists Are Better Customers Than Drivers for Local Business
“It may not have sand and crashing waves, but the Monon Trail is the equivalent of beachfront property in the Indianapolis area." Photo: Trip Advisor
Do local and state officials tune out when you try to talk to them about bicycling? Are they unconvinced by arguments about public health, transportation options, or clean air? Do business [...]
Do local and state officials tune out when you try to talk to them about bicycling? Are they unconvinced by arguments about public health, transportation options, or clean air? Do business [...]
Kevin Paul Lepage William Ashton Lewis Jr Sterling Burton Marlin Mark Anthony Martin
C/D Battle of the Beaters YouTube Series: We Need Your Ideas!
Our new YouTube channel launches on May 1, and it’s going to be chock full of original content, including a show called Battle of the Beaters. It’s an action-packed series wherein two teams pick up a crapcan on a limited budget, and then have to fix it up within a specified period of time to [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/sSkMjEAzzWk/
Solberg wins Fafe Rally Sprint
Former World Rally Champion Petter Solberg took his first win in Ford colours yesterday, beating Sebastien Loeb to Fafe Rally Sprint victory by just two hundredths of a second. The Rally Sprint, which was run over the legendary Fafe stage, was introduced as a warm-up for this week's Rally of Portugal - and as a way for the organisers to engage with fans in the north of the country. The stage was last used as part of the WRC round in 2001, the last year the Rally of Portugal ran in the north, since its return to the calendar in 2007 it has been based in Faro on the Algarve.
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/world-rally-championship-news/wrc/solberg-wins-fafe-rally-sprint
Today’s Headlines
What Did Senate Republicans Get in Exchange for Letting the MTA Borrow More Money? (AP)
Problem for Car Makers: MTV Marketers Can’t Make Driving Less Miserable and Expensive (NYT)
After Just Two Months, 10 Percent of S.I. Bus Riders Use MTA BusTime (TransNat)
Two Cops Hospitalized After Livery Cab Driver Collides With Police Cruiser (Post)
Wouldn’t It Be Great [...]
Problem for Car Makers: MTV Marketers Can’t Make Driving Less Miserable and Expensive (NYT)
After Just Two Months, 10 Percent of S.I. Bus Riders Use MTA BusTime (TransNat)
Two Cops Hospitalized After Livery Cab Driver Collides With Police Cruiser (Post)
Wouldn’t It Be Great [...]
Source: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/03/26/todays-headlines-1353/
DBR1 designer Ted Cutting dies
Ted Cutting, the man behind Aston Martin's Le Mans-winning DBR1, has died at the age of 85. After a spell in the Fleet Air Arm, Cutting joined Sydney Allard's small team in the 1940s. He once described the job as "very basic automobile engineering" and left to join Aston Martin in 1949
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/dbr1-designer-ted-cutting-dies
Poor weather halts Malaysian GP
The Malaysian Grand Prix was stopped after eight laps on Sunday when the event was marred by poor weather. The race had started amid a light shower, but conditions worsened in the early stages as Lewis Hamilton led team-mate Jenson Button
Sterling Burton Marlin Mark Anthony Martin Jeremy Allan Mayfield James Christopher McMurray
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Go West Young Men
After a brief spring break, the iRacing.com Skip Barber Racing School Premier Series headed over to the west coast for Week 2 action at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Laguna Seca, known famously for its Corkscrew turn, provided excitement for drivers on the virtual circuit. Some new faces made their presence known during Week 2, as well as the contenders who elected not to drop Week 1 of the series championship. Last week, for Christian Aranha went undefeated in his two starts. His good fortune allowed him to have a repeat performance at Laguna Seca, but a high strength of field race win enabled iRacing.com Grand Prix World Championship Series regular David Williams to join Aranha atop the overall standings. The first race of week two (2:00 GMT) saw three splits [...]
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/iracing-news/go-west-young-men
Report: Bentley to show SUV concept unaltered in Beijing
Filed under: Concept Cars, SUV, Geneva Motor Show, China, Bentley, Beijing Motor Show, Luxury
Automotive News reports Bentley is staying the course with the company's EXP 9 F SUV Concept. The ultra-luxury automaker plans to bring the vehicle to the Beijing Motor Show exactly as it appeared at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this month, despite the fact that the concept didn't exactly debut to resounding acclaim. Critics described the design as awkward and unbecoming of nameplate like Bentley, but the automaker says it wants to vet the design in as many markets as possible before finalizing the exterior. Here's hoping the crowds in China are as repulsed as those in Switzerland.
The EXP 9 F has already been green-lit for production, and while we have no qualm with the thought of a high-riding luxury brute with a twin-turbo 12-cylinder engine under the hood, we'd like to see something a little less muddled outside. Bentley says an SUV will give the company a leg up in markets like the Middle East and China, where luxury SUVs remain king. Through the first two months of this year, the company's sales are up 66 percent in China, putting the country ahead of the United States as the largest market for Bentley products.
Bentley to show SUV concept unaltered in Beijing originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/23/bentley-to-show-suv-concept-unaltered-in-beijing/
Gerino Gerini Peter Gethin Piercarlo Ghinzani Bruno Giacomelli
SRT Motorsports (Dodge) KEYS FOR SUCCESS: Auto Club 400
Street and Racing Technology (SRT) Motorsports LogoFONTANA, Calif., (Saturday, March 24, 2012) – Each race weekend, selected SRT Motorsports Engineers, Penske Racing engineers and crew chiefs, drivers or engine specialists give their insight on the ‘Keys for Success’ for the upcoming race. This week, Howard Comstock, SRT Motorsports Engineering – provides the keys for Sunday’s...more»
Spy Shots: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series caught braving the cold
Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz has a history of offering performance models that would make any niche supercar manufacturer cower. The latest among them is the SLS AMG, but the gullwing coupe and its roadster counterpart aren't the extent of what the German automaker's skunkworks have in store. No, that place of honor at the top of the Mercedes-Benz lineup will soon be taken by an SLS AMG Black Series.
Following in the footsteps of the SLK55 AMG Black Series, CLK63 AMG Black Series, SL65 AMG Black Series and (most recently) the C63 AMG Black Series, the new SLS AMG Black Series promises to eclipse them all with an anticipated 560 horsepower, reduced curb weight and aggressive aerodynamics package.
These spy shots, snapped while the vehicle was undergoing cold-weather testing in the frigid north, also show the tell-tale widened fenders to house the upgraded rolling stock and a new front bumper to feed the over-clocked engine with all the air it needs to breathe.
We're told to expect the SLS AMG Black Series sometime next year, but you can check out the spy shots now in our high-resolution image gallery.
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series caught braving the cold originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/23/mercedes-benz-sls-amg-black-series-caught-braving-the-cold/
Spy Shots: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series caught braving the cold
Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Performance, Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz has a history of offering performance models that would make any niche supercar manufacturer cower. The latest among them is the SLS AMG, but the gullwing coupe and its roadster counterpart aren't the extent of what the German automaker's skunkworks have in store. No, that place of honor at the top of the Mercedes-Benz lineup will soon be taken by an SLS AMG Black Series.
Following in the footsteps of the SLK55 AMG Black Series, CLK63 AMG Black Series, SL65 AMG Black Series and (most recently) the C63 AMG Black Series, the new SLS AMG Black Series promises to eclipse them all with an anticipated 560 horsepower, reduced curb weight and aggressive aerodynamics package.
These spy shots, snapped while the vehicle was undergoing cold-weather testing in the frigid north, also show the tell-tale widened fenders to house the upgraded rolling stock and a new front bumper to feed the over-clocked engine with all the air it needs to breathe.
We're told to expect the SLS AMG Black Series sometime next year, but you can check out the spy shots now in our high-resolution image gallery.
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Series caught braving the cold originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/23/mercedes-benz-sls-amg-black-series-caught-braving-the-cold/
Intel GT Series World Finals on iRacing Live on Saturday
The 2012 Intel GT Series World Finals will be broadcast Saturday on iRacing Live beginning at 19:00 GMT (3 pm EDT). The event climaxes a global tournament that began last fall, with iRacers around the world competing in four regional series and finals. Saturday’s race pits 32 drivers from a dozen countries in a thirty minute online race at Circuit Spa-Francorchamps in identical HPD-ARX01cs, with more than $4,000 in Intel computers and accessories going to the top three finishers. Although 2011 iRacing.com Grand Prix World Championship Series winner Hugo Luis headlines the entry, he will have plenty of competition. Joining him the South America region are Mogar DG Filho, Denis Valjean, Sergio Roda Junior, Alexandre Sene, Marcel Fachini, Ricardo Goncalves Silva and Jose Telmo. North America will be represented by [...]
Saturday, March 24, 2012
2012 Jaguar XJL Supersport Tested: Long on Power, Not Just Wheelbase
If you’re looking at the Jaguar XJL Supersport with possible acquisition in mind, chances are pretty good that you have a little string of initials after your name, attesting to your economic status. Initials like CEO, or COO, or (most probably) CFO, for example. One glance at the price tells you this car isn’t exactly [...]
Kasey Kahne Leads Chevrolet in Qualifying at Auto Club Speedway
Kasey Kahne, driver of the No. 5 Quaker State Chevrolet, sits in his car during practice - Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCARTeam Chevy Drivers Occupy Five of the Top-10 Starting Positions for Sunday’s Auto Club 400 FONTANA, Calif. (March 23, 2012) – Kasey Kahne No. 5 Quaker State Chevrolet, earned a fifth-place starting...more»
Shane Lewis to Make Dubai 24H Debut
Shane Lewis Dubai 24H DUBAI - December 29, 2011 American to Start 31st Career 24-Hour Race at Middle East's Premier Event Shane Lewis began his career running open wheel races that lasted 30-minutes. Today, he has become one of the...
Source: http://www.motorsportsjournal.com/archives/2011/12/shane_lewis_to_make_dubai.php
2012 Auto Club Speedway NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Starting Lineup – Denny Hamlin
1 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Express Toyota 38.626 186.403 2 18 Kyle Busch Interstate Batteries Toyota 38.807 185.534 3 55 Mark Martin Aaron’s Toyota 38.807 185.534 4 16 Greg Biffle 3M Ford 38.812 185.510 5 5 Kasey Kahne Quaker State Chevrolet 38.812 185.510 6 39 Ryan Newman US ARMY Chevrolet 38.850 185.328 7 29 Kevin [...]
Robert Allen Labonte Terrence Lee Labonte Randy Joseph Lajoie Kevin Paul Lepage
Gargoyles Performance Eyewear Signs Brad Keselowski As Brand Ambassador
Gargoyles EyewearSmithfield, R.I. (March 22 , 2012) – Gargoyles Performance Eyewear is happy to announce that Penske Racing driver and BKR team owner, Brad Keselowski is joining its growing team of professional athletes and brand ambassadors. Keselowski, a contender for the 2012 Sprint Cup championship, will appear in Gargoyles advertising campaigns, in addition to working...more»
2012 Ford Police Interceptor / Interceptor Utility First Drive: The Crown Vic Retires from the Force
From New York to New Orleans, cops and cabbies have more in common than a Plexiglas divider behind them: A fierce loyalty to primitive but durable rear-drive guzzlers. Keep Reading: 2012 Ford Police Interceptor / Interceptor Utility – First Drive Review
Official: Kia Rio, Hyundai Accent and Chevy Sonic top Consumer Reports subcompact shootout
Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Sedan, Hatchback, Chevrolet, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Toyota
Consumer Reports has just wrapped up an evaluation of subcompact sedans, and the Kia Rio EX has rolled out ahead of the class. The four-door beat out its corporate clone, the Hyundai Accent and the Chevrolet Sonic to take the top spot. Evaluators pointed to the sharp handling and well-optioned interior in the Rio as reasons for the vehicle's win. The newly redesigned Nissan Versa and unloved Toyota Yaris filled out the top five sedans. And what of the baby hatchbacks? CR once again credited the Honda Fit as leader of the pack, followed closely by the Versa Hatchback and Rio Hatchback.
The organization found fault with the base Chevrolet Sonic's fuel economy, and found the turbocharged LTZ model to be too expensive. Evaluators also felt the Sonic Turbo "didn't live up to its sporty aspirations."
We'll politely agree to disagree on that one.
All of the vehicles in the evaluation are either too new or scored too low in CR evaluations to earn a coveted Recommended rating. Hit the jump for a look at the full press release and debate amongst yourselves in Comments.
Continue reading Kia Rio, Hyundai Accent and Chevy Sonic top Consumer Reports subcompact shootout
Kia Rio, Hyundai Accent and Chevy Sonic top Consumer Reports subcompact shootout originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/23/kia-rio-hyundai-accent-and-chevy-sonic-top-consumer-reports/
William Clyde Elliott Jeffrey Michael Gordon Charles Robert Hamilton IV Charles Robert Hamilton V
Hamlin takes pole at Fontana
Denny Hamlin claimed his first pole position of the season in qualifying for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Fontana. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver, who has had an up and down start to his year, winning at Phoenix but then finishing 20th in the last two races, got the 10th pole of his career after setting a fastest lap of 38.626 seconds at an average speed of 186.403 mph around the two-mile oval, bumping his team-mate Kyle Busch from the top spot.
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/nascar-news/nascar/hamlin-takes-pole-at-fontana
Friday, March 23, 2012
2012 Ford Police Interceptor / Interceptor Utility First Drive: The Crown Vic Retires from the Force
From New York to New Orleans, cops and cabbies have more in common than a Plexiglas divider behind them: A fierce loyalty to primitive but durable rear-drive guzzlers. Keep Reading: 2012 Ford Police Interceptor / Interceptor Utility – First Drive Review
James Buescher, No. 30 Deft Finishings Chevrolet Impala Auto Club Speedway Preview
2012 NNS James BuescherJAMES BUESCHER No. 30 Deft Finishings Chevrolet Auto Club Speedway Royal Purple 300 March 24, 2012 No. 30 Deft Finishings Chevrolet News and Notes This Week’s Impala…The No. 30 Deft Finishings team will bring chassis TMS-323 to Southern California for Saturday’s 300-mile race. TMS-323 is a brand new chassis to the No....more»
Hendrick Motorsports Wins Appeal: A Fan’s Reaction (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
On Tuesday, March 20, 2012, Hendrick Motorsports got some great news . The team learned that most of the penalties that Jimmie Johnsons team incurred will be wiped out. Though a fine will still need to be paid and both Johnsons crew and car chiefs will be on probation for...
Loeb against endurance rallies
Sebastien Loeb has admitted the shift towards longer events in the World Rally Championship could hasten his decision to retire from the sport. The eight-time world champion has a contract with Citroen until the end of next season, but the Frenchman has a clause in the deal which would allow him to walk away at the end of 2012. FIA president Jean Todt and WRC manager Michele Mouton have pushed on in recent weeks with their vision to take the sport back to its endurance roots
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/world-rally-championship-news/wrc/loeb-against-endurance-rallies
Georges Grignard Bobby Grim Romain Grosjean Olivier Grouillard
East Harlem CB Approves Protected Bike Lanes for First and Second Avenues
East Harlem’s Community Board 11 last night approved, again, plans to build protected bike lanes and pedestrian refuge islands on First and Second Avenues. The vote comes after a lengthy public debate in which the community fought for the lanes and the board approved them, only to take back its support after local businesses protested.
First [...]
First [...]
Kenny Dale Irwin Jr Dale Arnold Jarrett Jimmie Kenneth Johnson Kasey Kenneth Kahne
Report Details How Onerous NYC’s Regressive Parking Minimums Really Are
Developers of small projects who could get a waiver from the city's parking minimums built almost no parking. Those who couldn't built no more parking than required by law. Image: NYU Furman Center
New research from New York University’s Furman Center [PDF] provides added evidence that New York’s parking minimums are forcing developers to provide unwanted [...]
New research from New York University’s Furman Center [PDF] provides added evidence that New York’s parking minimums are forcing developers to provide unwanted [...]
12 Hours of Sebring 2012: The Aftermath + Photo Gallery
If you thought Audi’s victory at the 60th anniversary running of the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring was akin to “clubbing baby seals,” as one friend suggested, it may make you even sadder to learn that, after taking a day off to stretch—and polish the trophies—Audi was back at Sebring and hard at it [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/jK2UrDqLD5U/
Jean Marc Gounon Emmanuel de Graffenried Lucas di Grassi Cecil Green
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Vettel: RB8 just needs more track time
Sebastian Vettel believes Red Bull Racing needs more track time in order to extract the full potential from its car, which he reckons has no fundamental issues. Red Bull, the dominant force last season, was unable to challenge McLaren for pole or victory in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
Official: Mercedes-Benz GLK gets facelift, diesel option ahead of New York
Filed under: New York Auto Show, SUV, Crossover, Mercedes-Benz, Diesel, Luxury
When the doors open at Manhattahn's Javitz Center for the New York Auto Show in less than two weeks, Mercedes-Benz will have a refreshed version of its GLK-Class on display. But you needn't wait that long, as parent company Daimler has just released the full spectrum of details and photos of its updated entry-level crossover.
Decidedly evolutionary in its refresh, the 2013 GLK is characterized largely by the same sharp lines as the model it replaces, but now, the creases and sculpting is slightly more rounded and more dynamic in appearance. While the exterior has had its sharp edges smoothed out, the interior has likewise been updated, with those SLS AMG-derived retro air vents dominating the restyled dashboard and the gearshift lever moving to a stalk on the steering column in similar fashion to other recent Three-Pointed Star vehicles.
The biggest news, however, comes under the hood. While the existing GLK was only offered with a single engine, the new model will be available in two specs: the GLK350 with direct-injection 3.5-liter V6 now good for 302 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque (up from 268hp and 258 lb-ft), or the GLK250 BlueTEC diesel that, at 190 hp and 369 lb-ft, offers less power but far more twist from its 2.1 liters and four cylinders. While the updated GLK350 will be available starting in the summer, American buyers intent on the diesel will have to wait until early next year. Both are mated to a seven-speed automatic with stop-start system, and can be had in either rear-drive or 4Matic all-wheel drive.
There's plenty more to delve into in the press release after the jump, and a whole mess of high-resolution photos in the gallery, so check 'em out and watch this space for live coverage from the vehicle's unveiling in New York.
Continue reading Mercedes-Benz GLK gets facelift, diesel option ahead of New York
Mercedes-Benz GLK gets facelift, diesel option ahead of New York originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 09:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/22/mercedes-benz-glk-gets-facelift-diesel-option-ahead-of-new-york/
Atlanta Motor Speedway President Ed Clark Q&A on 20 Years at AMS
2012 marks Atlanta Motor Speedway President and GM Ed Clark's 20th year at AMS. His first race in 1992 was Jeff Gordon's first start in NASCAR's cup division. Credit: HHP ImagesHAMPTON, Ga. (March 22, 2012) – The 2012 AdvoCare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway will feature drivers battling for Chase for the Sprint Cup positions,...more»
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