Source: http://formula-one.speedtv.com/article/f1-sauber-joins-forces-with-soccer-club-chelsea/
Monday, April 30, 2012
F1: Sauber Joins Forces With Soccer Club Chelsea
Sauber CEO sees strength enhancement for both Formula One team and Chelsea FC...
Coronel penalised for Engstler clash
ROAL Motorsport's Tom Coronel has received a 30-second post-race penalty for an incident in race one of the World Touring Car Championship at the Slovakia Ring. The Dutchman was judged to have caused an avoidable collision in an incident with the similar BMW of Engstler driver Franz Engstler, who retired
Toyota NASCAR Nationwide Series Richmond International Raceway Notes & Quotes Travis Pastrana
Travis Pastrana - Photo Credit: John Harrelson / Getty Images for NASCARTOYOTA NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) Travis Pastrana — Notes & Quotes Richmond International Raceway – April 26, 2012 TRAVIS PASTRANA, No. 99 Boost Mobile Toyota Camry, RAB Racing Are you eager to make you Nationwide Series debut? “It’s definitely been a really long time...more»
VIDEO: SX - SLC Recap
Ryan Dungey was down but not out in Saturday night's Monster Energy Supercross main event in Salt Lake City.
Source: http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/video-sx-slc-recap/
Brooklyn Driver Kills 75-Year-Old Pedestrian, No Charges Filed
A 75-year-old woman was killed crossing Avenue S at E. 15th Street, shown here. Image: Google Street View
A driver struck and killed an elderly woman crossing the street in the Homecrest neighborhood of Brooklyn this morning, according to the NYPD.
The driver, a 36-year-old male, was turning left from E. 15th Street onto Avenue S when [...]
A driver struck and killed an elderly woman crossing the street in the Homecrest neighborhood of Brooklyn this morning, according to the NYPD.
The driver, a 36-year-old male, was turning left from E. 15th Street onto Avenue S when [...]
Source: http://www.streetsblog.org/2012/04/25/brooklyn-driver-kills-75-year-old-pedestrian-no-charges-filed/
Aston Martin Dragon (!) 88 Limited Editions [Beijing Auto Show]
Just like many other automakers displaying at the Beijing auto show, Aston Martin has released a celebratory Year of the Dragon package called the Dragon 88 Limited Edition. This special version will be available for the DBS, Virage, and V8 Vantage S. Despite being adorned with dragons that are synonymous with power and strength in [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/5XIML70JmQw/
Travis Pastrana’s Debut NASCAR Nationwide Series Results
16 9 22 Brad Keselowski(i) Discount Tire / SKF Dodge 17 20 44 Mike Bliss BanditChippers.com Toyota 18 14 20 Joey Logano(i) Dollar General Toyota 19 4 88 Cole Whitt # TaxSlayer Chevrolet 20 24 70 Johanna Long # Foretravel Motorcoach / Grand Springs Chevrolet 21 16 7 Danica Patrick GoDaddy.com Chevrolet 22 25 99 [...]
Source: http://thefinallap.com/2012/04/28/travis-pastranas-debut-nascar-nationwide-series-results-richmond/
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Ford Racing, 2012 NNS Virginia 529 College Savings 250 Post-Race Recaps
Ford RacingRICKY STENHOUSE JR., No. 6 Cargill Beef Ford Mustang (Finished 4th) ANOTHER TOP FIVE FINISH FOR YOU TONIGHT. “Yeah, it was alright. We weren’t the best we have been here but we weren’t terrible. There were times in the race I felt we had the best car in parts of the run but couldn’t...more»
San Diego Police: Unless the Cyclist Is Killed, Top Penalty Is a Ticket
It’s been interesting to watch the scrutiny building around how police handle collisions between cyclists and drivers in New York City. It’s become something of a scandal the way devastating or fatal crashes involving cyclists are rarely prosecuted or even investigated.
San Diego Police Lieutenant Rick O'Hanlon says unless a cyclist is killed in a collision, [...]
San Diego Police Lieutenant Rick O'Hanlon says unless a cyclist is killed in a collision, [...]
Brian Scott Finishes 14th Under the Lights at RIR
Brian ScottPost Race Highlights: · Joe Gibbs Racing’s Brian Scott qualified 15th for Friday night’s 250 lap night race at Richmond International Raceway. · The second caution of the night came out on lap 68. The No. 11 Dollar General team made their first pit stop of the day for four tires, fuel and adjustments....more»
Loeb claims 70th WRC victory
Sebastien Loeb claimed the 70th victory of his incredible World Rally Championship career, and stretched his points lead in the process, as he cruised home to win Rally Argentina. The eight-time champion's weekend had got off to a messy start as he spun three times on Friday morning and fell to fourth place
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/world-rally-championship-news/wrc/loeb-claims-70th-wrc-victory
2012 Richmond NASCAR Nationwide Series Starting Lineup – Harvick pole sitter
1 33 Kevin Harvick(i) Fast Fixin’ Chevrolet 21.665 124.625 2 18 Denny Hamlin(i) Z-Line Designs Toyota 21.668 124.608 3 3 Austin Dillon # Advocare Chevrolet 21.734 124.229 4 88 Cole Whitt # TaxSlayer Chevrolet 21.797 123.870 5 38 Kasey Kahne(i) Great Clips Chevrolet 21.814 123.774 6 6 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Cargill / Blackwell Angus Ford [...]
Engine issues trouble Austin
British Touring Car driver Rob Austin's Thruxton weekend has started badly due to engine problems. Austin had to withdraw his NGTC Audi A4 from the race at Donington Park last time out due to engine issues and two more motors have blown on the dyno. Austin was still waiting for a repaired unit to be delivered as the first free practice session began at the Hampshire circuit on Saturday morning
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/other-news/touring-cars/btcc/engine-issues-trouble-austin
Marty Golden: Time for Strict Enforcement on Life-Saving Truck Mirrors
An informal survey conducted by the Daily News suggests that many trucking companies and truck drivers are ignoring the state’s four-month-old crossover mirror law, and that police are not enforcing the safety measure.
The father of Moshe Englender, killed by a truck driver in Williamsburg last May, says the law intended to prevent "blind spot" crashes [...]
The father of Moshe Englender, killed by a truck driver in Williamsburg last May, says the law intended to prevent "blind spot" crashes [...]
Official: ABT introduces 240-HP tuned VW Beetle
Filed under: Aftermarket, Hatchback, Volkswagen, Specialty
Maybe you want a Volkswagen Beetle that does more than merely get noticed. Maybe you want a Beetle that... provokes. If so, you need to give German tuner ABT Sportsline a call.
Tweaks are made to the 2.0-liter turbo that add 40 horsepower. A front spoiler, wheels anywhere from 18 to 20 inches, and oval tailipes boost the aggression. Headlight covers make it look mean, and the "carbon-look deco set" with red trim makes it unforgettable.
The result is the Beetle Limousine 5CO, and if you're a configurating kind of guy, then ABT will let you toy around with the options. Otherwise there's a press release if you scroll below and a high-res gallery above.
Continue reading ABT introduces 240-HP tuned VW Beetle
ABT introduces 240-HP tuned VW Beetle originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/28/abt-introduces-240-hp-tuned-vw-beetle/
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Lorenzo worried by tyre degradation
Jorge Lorenzo said his Yamaha suffered from tyre degradation in practice for MotoGP's Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez. Lorenzo leads the championship after passing Honda's Casey Stoner for the lead in the latter stages of this season's opening round in Qatar, but he has concerns in Spain after he and team-mate Ben Spies suffered from tyre problems in the mixed conditions of practice
Hirvonen understands team orders call
Citroen driver Mikko Hirvonen said he understood the team's decision not to allow him to challenge Sebastien Loeb for victory on Rally Argentina - despite the pair being split by just 2.1 seconds. There remains 136 miles of competition on the fifth round of the World Rally Championship, but Loeb and Hirvonen will remain first and second, with Ford's Dani Sordo an increasingly distant third. Hirvonen said: "You understand the team wants to be sensible and I understand it.
Report: 40% of McLaren MP4-12Cs bound for the U.S.
Niche automakers face a difficult decision: lay out the mountain of cash it takes to have their exotic rides certified for American roads, or save the money and miss out on one of the largest markets. McLaren Automotive had the new MP4-12C homologated for the United States, and now they're thankful that they did.
According to Motor Trend, a whopping 40 percent of the 1000 orders for the MP4-12C that McLaren has taken so far have been placed by customers in the US, through its extensive dealer network here.
It was a surprise most of all for Antony Sheriff, the American who serves as McLaren Automotive's managing director. From his experiences as a racing fan on this side of the Atlantic, he felt that McLaren lacked the brand recognition that names like Ferrari and Lamborghini enjoy in a market that's had an on-again, off-again relationship with Formula One.
With the MP4-12C already off to an auspicious start, the focus at McLaren's high-tech facility in Woking, England, has turned to expanding the lineup. The successor to the legendary McLaren F1 is in the works, and the rumormill suggests that both a convertible version of the MP4-12C and a stripped-down, hardcore variant in the mold of the Ferrari 430 Scuderia and Porsche 911 GT3 RS are also being developed. As for those shooting-brake rumors, we haven't been holding our breath, and wouldn't suggest you do, either.
40% of McLaren MP4-12Cs bound for the U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/28/40-of-mclaren-mp4-12cs-bound-for-the-u-s/
SRT Motorsports (Dodge) 2012 NSCS Capital City 400 Post-Qualifying Recaps
Street and Racing Technology (SRT) Motorsports LogoA.J. Allmendinger (No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Dodge Charger R/T) Qualified 4th \ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THAT LAP? “Yeah, I’m really happy with that. You know, the lap times here are so close and this place is so tough to get a lap in and be smooth but overall just really...more»
Honda Concept C: An Acura Look-Alike for China [Beijing Auto Show]
Like many other automakers, Honda has upped its focus on the Chinese car market, and now the company has created a China-centric show car called the Concept C. The Concept C previews a new sedan that will be built and sold in China next year, and debuted at the 2012 Beijing auto show alongside the [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/c6XWqVM-THQ/honda-concept-c-auto-shows
iGPWCS Round 5 on iRacing Live Saturday
Round 5 of the iRacing.com Grand Prix World Championship Series will be broadcast iRacing Live on Saturday, April 28 starting at 7 pm EDT (22:00 GMT). On tap are 83 laps of the 11 turn, 2.314 mile Okayama International Circuit. After last season’s up and down defense of his 2010 championship, Greger Huttu has returned to dominant form this year with three wins in four outings for a score of 185 points. With a win of his own and two runner-up finishes returning champion Hugo Luis (143) is doing his best to keep Huttu honest, while Luke McLean (113) and Jaroslav Honzik (102) are the only other sim racers to have breached the century mark so far. Can Huttu make it four of five? Can Luis win again and cut [...]
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/iracing-news/igpwcs-round-5-on-iracing-live-saturday
Report: Aston Martin to offer Ultimate Edition before replacing the DBS
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Aston Martin
In the earlier part of the last decade, the king of the Aston Martin hill was a model called the Vanquish. More muscular than the DB7 it superseded, the Vanquish was offered first with a 450-horsepower V12, and then as the Vanquish S with 514 hp on tap. The flagship model from Newport Pagnell was replaced in 2007 by the DBS, but before it went the way of the proverbial dodo, Aston offered a final run of 40 examples called the Vanquish S Ultimate Edition. And now that its successor is itself due for replacement, sources expect Aston to offer a DBS Ultimate Edition, as well.
What separated the Vanquish S Ultimate Edition from its penultimate basis were a special black paint job, an enhanced interior and - most significantly - a conventional manual gearbox to replace the maligned sequential transmission in the regular model. What the DBS Ultimate Edition might comprise remains to be seen, but sources don't expect a manual gearbox to factor into the mix.
The Ultimate Edition, then, may boil down to something largely similar to the above-pictured Carbon Black edition that, like the Vanquish special, also featured a special black paint job and unique wheels, but little in the way of powertrain or suspension upgrades. Whatever the Ultimate Edition does encompass, though, is expected to cost nearly $300,000 and limited in production to just 100 units, of which only 30 are expected to make it to American dealerships.
Aston Martin to offer Ultimate Edition before replacing the DBS originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/aston-martin-to-offer-ultimate-edition-before-replacing-the-dbs/
Friday, April 27, 2012
Pescarolo delays debut of LMP1 car
Sportscar legend Henri Pescarolo has delayed the debut of his new LMP1 contender until the Le Mans 24 Hours. His team had planned to race its new Pescarolo-Judd 03, which is based around the monocoque and suspension from last year's Aston Martin AMR-One, at the Spa 6 Hours on May 5. As predicted by AUTOSPORT, it will now not be ready in time for the second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, which means Pescarolo Team will be forced to give the car its race debut in the 24 Hours in June
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/pescarolo-delays-debut-of-lmp1-car
Rahal optimistic over Filippi’s deal
Bobby Rahal remains optimistic that the Rahal Letterman Lanigan team can do a deal to run GP2 veteran Luca Filippi in IndyCar this year, despite signing Michel Jourdain Jr to drive its second car in the Indy 500. Filippi had been unveiled as the team's second driver earlier in the season and was originally scheduled to make his debut in Indianapolis next month before the Jourdain deal was announced, but Rahal said that the Italian remains part of his plans. "We're continuing to work towards Luca being part of the team," he said "I received a call today that leads me to believe that that's going to be soon
McLaren: Managing tyres key to form
McLaren believes the key to getting itself back to the front in Formula 1 is getting on top of the 2012 tyres.
Dissected: Lotus-Based Infiniti Emerg-E Sports-Car Concept
One could barely walk through a major international auto show in the last couple of years without tripping over a hybrid or electric sports-car concept. On its Geneva show stand this year, Infiniti unveiled a flagship mid-engined sports car that’s also a plug-in hybrid. While the car, called Emerg-E, is just a concept for now, [...]
MSR files Indy 500 entry for Howard
Michael Shank Racing has filed an entry to run Jay Howard in next month's Indy 500, although its participation will hinge upon the team securing an engine deal. The Ohio-based team, which won this year's Daytona 500, took delivery of a DW12 chassis earlier this year and has the funding for its Indy campaign in place, and team owner Shank said that he is confident of a strong performance provided that he can find an engine. "We have the sponsor package in place, and we believe Jay is the kind of driver who could really shine in the 500," Shank said
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Bianchi to drive in Mugello test
Jules Bianchi will get back behind the wheel of the Force India at Mugello next week, as Force India elects to split testing duties between its three drivers. The Frenchman last drove the car during Friday practice at the Chinese Grand Prix, ahead of a further eight outings over the course of the season to get valuable race-weekend mileage in a Formula 1 car. Force India has elected to hand Bianchi running on the first day of next week's Mugello test, with Paul di Resta running on Wednesday and Nico Hulkenberg on the final day
Virginia Governor Sets April 26 as Denny Hamlin Foundation Day
The Denny Hamlin FoundationRICHMOND, Va. – Governor Robert McDonnell has officially recognized April 26 as Denny Hamlin Foundation Day. “’I am grateful to Governor McDonnell for his gracious support and recognition of the Foundation,” Hamlin said. “By extension, this also recognizes the doctors, scientists, volunteers and others who continue to care for those afflicted by...more»
Bugatti Displays One-Off Veyron Grand Sport Wei Long [Beijing Auto Show]
Not content to let fellow premium manufacturers Ferrari and Rolls-Royce grab all the Year of the Dragon headlines coming out of the Beijing auto show, Bugatti has unveiled its own vehicular interpretation of the theme. Based on the Veyron Grand Sport, Bugatti’s Wei Long 2012 one-off model was developed in conjunction with revered German porcelain [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/U8n87UFwpCw/
Justin Allgaier, No. 31 BRANDT Chevrolet Impala Richmond International Raceway Preview
No. 31 BRANDT Chevrolet Ag car, driven by Justin AllgaierJUSTIN ALLGAIER QUICK FACTS No. 31 BRANDT Chevrolet Richmond International Raceway Virginia 529 College Savings 250 April 27, 2012 No. 31 BRANDT Chevrolet News and Notes Starts Poles Wins Top-Fives Top-10′s Avg. Start Avg. Finish 6 0 0 1 3 18.8 14.2 Weekend Rewind: Texas I...more»
Rosberg vindicated by stewards’ decision
Nico Rosberg says the fact he avoided sanction after vigorously defending from both Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso during the Bahrain Grand Prix was proof that it was 'good racing'. Rosberg appeared to push both drivers off the track on separate occasions between Turns 3 and 4 as he defended hard, with Hamilton forced to overtake off circuit and Alonso forced to abandon his attempt.
CUP: Stewart Looks To Get Mojo Back
Tony Stewart is a three-time Richmond winner…
Source: http://nascar.speedtv.com/article/cup-tony-stewart-looks-to-get-mojo-back-nascar-sprint/
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Chrysler Debuts China-Themed Wrangler and 300 Concepts [Beijing Auto Show]
Chrysler showed two special-edition cars, a 300 and a Jeep Wrangler, at the Beijing auto show. Both are influenced by Chinese culture. Chrysler 300 Ruyi Design Concept The Chrysler 300 Ruyi design concept is named for a type of opulent scepter—or, as we might call it, a Royal Whoopin’ Stick. In part, the car is [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/x07VfYg3y5Y/
Pescarolo delays debut of LMP1 car
Sportscar legend Henri Pescarolo has delayed the debut of his new LMP1 contender until the Le Mans 24 Hours. His team had planned to race its new Pescarolo-Judd 03, which is based around the monocoque and suspension from last year's Aston Martin AMR-One, at the Spa 6 Hours on May 5. As predicted by AUTOSPORT, it will now not be ready in time for the second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, which means Pescarolo Team will be forced to give the car its race debut in the 24 Hours in June
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/pescarolo-delays-debut-of-lmp1-car
Stoner sure Qatar issues will be solved
Casey Stoner is confident that he and Honda can overcome the chatter and arm pump issues which blighted his defence of his MotoGP crown in the 2012 season opener in Qatar. The Australian led most of the race, only to develop an arm pump problem which slowed his pace and allowed both Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo and his team-mate Dani Pedrosa to slip past into first and second
Pirelli insists tyres won’t decide title
Pirelli is adamant that the best drivers and teams will still win in Formula 1 this year, despite the tyres playing a more important role in the outcome of races. Many people - including team principals, drivers and engineers – think that getting the 2012 tyres into the right operating window is now essential for success in F1. That reliance on the tyres prompted Michael Schumacher to hit out at what he felt were limitations being imposed on drivers because they cannot push their cars to the limit without losing tyre performance
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Red Bull doubts dominance will resume
Red Bull is expecting the remainder of the Formula 1 season to be just as unpredictable as the first four races. Four teams have taken wins already this year, with reigning champion Sebastian Vettel bouncing back from a tricky start to the year to hold off Kimi Raikkonen's Lotus for victory in a thrilling race in Bahrain on Sunday.
MORE THAN 1000 FANS CELEBRATE MATT HAGAN'S 2011 FUNNY CAR CHAMPIONSHIP IN HIS HOMETOWN
MATT HAGAN 2011 FUNNY CAR CHAMPION CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. (Dec. 19, 2011) More than 1000 fans and friends celebrated Matt Hagan's 2011 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series Funny Car championship at the special event hosted by Shelor Motor Mile in...
Source: http://www.motorsportsjournal.com/archives/2011/12/more_than_1000_fans_celeb.php
Official: Audi unveils Q3 Jinlong Yufeng in Beijing
Filed under: Concept Cars, Performance, China, Crossover, Audi, Beijing Motor Show, Design/Style, Luxury
Audi has just unveiled a special concept version of the company's Q3 at this week's 2012 Beijing Motor Show to commemorate the year of the dragon. The 2012 Q3 Jinlong Yufeng, or "Golden Dragon In The Wind," caters to the kite surfers of the world thanks to its two roof-mounted carbon-fiber reinforced polymer boards and a clever kite pouch that can also be used to hold wet articles of clothing or serve as a beach umbrella. Designers have also thrown in a set of removable, wireless video cameras that can easily be attached to a sail bar or helmet.
The Q3 Jinlong Yufeng wears Liuli Yellow paint outside as well as a few special off-road body components based on production pieces. Brushed stainless steel running boards, LED spotlights mounted in the grille and integrated dual-exit exhaust are all part of the package. Indoors, designers have stitched the vehicle's surfaces with yellow contrasting thread. The seats use woven leather covers and each door panel features a yellow leather insert.
A turbocharged 2.5-liter direct-injection five-cylinder engine delivers 310 horsepower through a seven-speed transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive - enough, Audi says,to power the Q3 Jinlong Yufeng to 62 mph in 5.5 seconds. Hit the jump for the full press release.
Continue reading Audi unveils Q3 Jinlong Yufeng in Beijing
Audi unveils Q3 Jinlong Yufeng in Beijing originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/23/audi-unveils-q3-jinlong-yufeng-in-beijing/
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
Cities With the Most Highway Miles: a “Who’s Who” of Decay
This is fascinating. Using data from the FHWA, the esteemed Patrick Kennedy at Network blog Walkable Dallas Fort Worth has cobbled together a list of the American cities with the highest number of estimated highway lane miles per capita.
See if you notice any similarities (this is per 1,000 people):
1. Kansas City – 1.262
2. St Louis [...]
See if you notice any similarities (this is per 1,000 people):
1. Kansas City – 1.262
2. St Louis [...]
Source: http://streetsblog.net/2012/04/20/cities-with-the-most-highway-miles-a-whos-who-of-decay/
Monday, April 23, 2012
Tander takes Hamilton race one pole
Garth Tander claimed Holden Racing Team's first pole position of the 2012 V8 Supercars season in qualifying for race one of the weekend on the streets of Hamilton in New Zealand. A time of 1m22.3968s in the top 10 shoot-out placed Tander a little under a tenth of a second faster than front row partner Shane van Gisbergen's Stone Brothers Ford. David Reynolds was the quickest driver from the Ford Performance Racing stable as he equalled his career-best qualifying result in third place, ahead of champion Jamie Whincup (Triple Eight Holden) and Steve Owen - one of three Dick Johnson Racing cars to make the top 10 in the Ford team's strongest showing of 2012 so far.
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/tander-takes-hamilton-race-one-pole
Kristofferson leads practice at Imola
Johan Kristofferson kicked off the second round of the 2012 International Superstars Series at Imola in style, leading in the way in free practice one. In what was a dominant display from the Audi Sport team, the Swedish driver emerged at the top of the timesheets early in the session.
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/real-world-racing/3rdparty/kristofferson-leads-practice-at-imola
Report: Scion xB, xD models getting the axe
Filed under: Budget, Wagon, Hatchback, Scion
Scion has long been labeled as a "youth brand," so perhaps we shouldn't be surprised to read word of parent Toyota turning over the marque's aging nameplates so quickly. According to Ward's Auto, Scion is set to kill off its xB and xD models - the first a onetime icon for the brand, the latter an econobox that never truly caught on with buyers (not unlike it's predecessor, the xA).A model like the xB was always going to be a love-hate proposition, and indeed, the subcompact sharply divided opinion because of its its t-square styling and funky stance back when it was introduced in 2004. But enough buyers fell enough with its good qualities - remarkable space efficiency, solid fuel economy, ease-of-driving and low pricing that the xB sold surprisingly well, in the process becoming something of a totem for the brand. The second-generation model, which bowed for 2007, seemed to alter all the things that made the original so endearing: the xB grew substantially, had the uniquely sharp corners of its design chamfered off, and it gained more power without adding much in the way of performance because the vehicle had been so radically upsized. Fuel economy dipped, too, as did the xB's popularity with shoppers. Last year, Scion only moved about 17,000 examples - in its heyday, the xB sold over 60,000 units.
A couple of years ago, Jim Farley, Ford's vice president of global marketing, told Autoblog that Scion's intent wasn't to be a youth brand at all - it was to be an experimental division, an incubator for product and marketing techniques. Farley, as you may recall, was one of the driving forces behind Scion, ascending to the role of its vice president before being reassigned to Lexus. By Farley's yardstick, perhaps Scion had pushed the xB and xD as far as they could go, and now it's simply time to test new vehicular hypotheses. Indeed, more recent models like the tiny iQ and FR-S coupe show the brand experimenting in bold new directions... exactly the sort of innovation we can get behind.
Scion xB, xD models getting the axe originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/23/scion-xb-xd-models-getting-the-axe/
Texas Tune-Up
In what proved to be a tune-up week for many of the top NASCAR iRacing.com Series World Championship (NiSWC) drivers, the NASCAR iRacing.com Class A Series (NiCAS) made its way down south to Texas Motor Speedway for Week 11 of 2012 Season One. Being held a week before the NiSWC took to the high banks of TMS, it was a great opportunity for drivers to fine tune their setups under racing conditions before next week’s big race. This also provides more casual NiCAS competitors the challenge to race among the best the online racing sim has to offer. Both Jared Crawford and Jason Karlavige took the week off, as the NiCAS Division One Championship is all but decided. With Crawford out it opened the door for NiSWC driver Robert Hall [...]
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/nascar-news/texas-tune-up
LeMons Detroit Day One: Most Top Contenders Blow Up, Long-Suffering Bucksnort BMW Takes Big Lead
When the green flag waved this morning, we had a half-dozen or so Midwest Region-dominating teams set to battle for the Campaign To Prevent Gingervitis win on laps, with another 55 or so hopefuls aiming for an upset victory. When the checkered flag ended the day’s racing session, all but one of those teams had [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/_iDe5lD6hRE/
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Hotchkis E-Max Dodge Challenger Tested: An Original E-Body with Modern Suspension
When Dodge finally got around to answering the Mustang and Camaro in 1970, designer Carl Cameron’s coupe went wide and mouthy with the sheetmetal and put the occupants in a sort of speed bunker behind a big engine. Of course, the Challenger was a child of its era, dependent on a loud throttle and not [...]
McLaren ‘never discounted Red Bull’
Lewis Hamilton says it is no surprise that Red Bull Racing has returned to form in the Bahrain Grand Prix - because he thinks the champion team was never out of the running in the first place.
Biffle hopes win starts title challenge
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points leader Greg Biffle hopes ending a 49-race winless streak at Texas last week will be the springboard he needs to be a title contender in 2012. The Roush Fenway racer has enjoyed a great start to his campaign, already claiming five top-10 finishes from the first seven races of the season, with 13th places at Bristol and Martinsville being his worst results thus far
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/nascar-news/nascar/biffle-hopes-win-starts-title-challenge
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Hotchkis E-Max Dodge Challenger Tested: An Original E-Body with Modern Suspension
When Dodge finally got around to answering the Mustang and Camaro in 1970, designer Carl Cameron’s coupe went wide and mouthy with the sheetmetal and put the occupants in a sort of speed bunker behind a big engine. Of course, the Challenger was a child of its era, dependent on a loud throttle and not [...]
Bahrain row ‘will not harm F1′s image’
FIA president Jean Todt does not believe Formula 1's image will be damaged by the widespread critical media coverage the Bahrain Grand Prix has received this weekend. Speaking on the back of the events in Bahrain becoming headline news throughout the world, Todt said he was 'saddened' by the way some sections of the media were portraying what was happening in the Gulf State.
Carella's 2011 World Title Turns a New Page in F1 H2O Series!
F1 H2O / F1 Powerboat News ABU DHABI - January 2, 2012 Italian Alex Carella of the Qatar Team used both his driving skills and youthful exuberance to overtake his wily veteran teammate Jay Price of the USA with a...
Source: http://www.motorsportsjournal.com/archives/2012/01/carellas_2011_world_title.php
PHOTOS: SUNDAY ROCKINGHAM SPEEDWAY, KASEY KAHNE WINS
PHOTO CREDIT: NASCARMEDIA (USED WITH PERMISSION)
Source: http://thefinallap.com/2012/04/16/photos-sunday-rockingham-speedway-kasey-kahne-wins/
Name That Exhaust Note, Episode 132: 2012 Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson
On Tuesday, we posted an audio recording of a mystery car’s exhaust note. To hear it again, click play above. Most of you correctly identified this week’s engine sound as that of a V-8, and a few of you further specified it as the 411-hp, 6.2-liter V-8 from a Ford F-150. The F-150 in question, [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/Ry3kqWjrwVs/
Friday, April 20, 2012
NHRA JR. DRAG RACING LEAGUE CONFERENCE FINALS RETURNING TO DENVER, BRISTOL FOR 20TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2012
NHRA GLENDORA, Calif. Dec. 20, 2011 To help kick off the 20th Anniversary celebration of the NHRA Jr. Drag Racing League, NHRA announced today that the Western Conference Finals and Eastern Conference Finals will once again return to Bandimere Speedway...
Source: http://www.motorsportsjournal.com/archives/2011/12/nhra_jr_drag_racing_leagu_1.php
Video: Original Dodge Viper Concept shows up in new Chrysler video
Filed under: Classics, Convertible, Coupe, Performance, Plants/Manufacturing, Videos, Chrysler, Dodge, Design/Style
Got 13 minutes to spare? Of course you do - it's a Friday. Then we've got just the way to burn them.
Chrysler has posted three new SRT Viper videos, the first being a nice seven-minute documentary about Viper history, from its origins to the present.
We're happy to see the automaker make no attempts to distort the truth here, wisely including period footage of both Carroll Shelby and Bob Lutz, despite the fact that those two automotive legends currently work for its most bitter rivals, Ford and General Motors, respectively. The inclusion of a clip from the Viper TV series, however, was perhaps a less inspired choice. We'd have left that on the cutting room floor in favor of more racing footage, like maybe something from Le Mans.
The second video is three minutes of Ralph Gilles, President and CEO of SRT Brand and Motorsports at Chrysler. Gilles walks us around a static Viper, explaining some of the details in the design that might escape a casual observer - and help the new Viper hit 206 miles per hour.
The final video goes inside Conner Avenue Assembly in Detroit where Chrysler builds the Viper. So maybe Chrysler employees like Shelly Brown Alore, the operations manager at the plant, aren't quite the celebrity that Gilles is, but then again, we're exactly the type of car nerds that actually find this stuff interesting.
Scroll down to watch the videos.
Continue reading Original Dodge Viper Concept shows up in new Chrysler video
Original Dodge Viper Concept shows up in new Chrysler video originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsSource: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/04/20/original-dodge-viper-concept-shows-up-in-new-chrysler-video/
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
Sordo to test Ford Fiesta RS
Dani Sordo will test a Ford Fiesta RS WRC for the first time tomorrow. Sordo has been drafted into the Ford World Rally Team to deputise for the injured Jari-Matti Latvala, who has been forced out of next week's Rally Argentina after a skiing accident
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/world-rally-championship-news/wrc/sordo-to-test-ford-fiesta-rs
KASEY KAHNE WINS FIRST ROCKINGHAM TRUCK SERIES RACE
April 15, 2012 NASCAR Wire Service ROCKINGHAM, N.C. — Kasey Kahne capped a successful weekend of triple-duty Sunday afternoon, winning the Good Sam Roadside Assistance 200 to mark NASCAR’s return to Rockingham Speedway for the first time since 2004. Kahne — who finished seventh in the Sprint Cup Series on Saturday and third in the [...]
Source: http://thefinallap.com/2012/04/16/kasey-kahne-wins-first-rockingham-truck-series-race-results/
Huttu Edges Luis in Sebring Thriller
In a thrilling 52 laps around the digital Sebring International Raceway, Greger Huttu continued his racing-renaissance along with his charge towards a possible 2012 iRacing.com Grand Prix World Championship Series title. Absorbing relentless pressure from reigning champion Hugo Luis, Huttu was faultless in his pole-to-flag victory, one that sees him take a big lead in the standings table. Starting from pole-position following a qualifying lap of 1:28.184, Huttu made a clean getaway as the lights went out, to lead My3id’s Hugo Luis through the bumpy Turn One, and maintain their one-two positions. Locked together by a gap that barely touched a second, the two champions played-out a nose to tail ballet, as they broke clear of third placed Luke McLean, and then headed to pit-road for the first time. Whilst [...]
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/iracing-news/huttu-edges-luis-in-sebring-thriller
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Monaco announces track changes
Monaco Grand Prix organisers have announced several changes that have been made to the track around the streets of Monte Carlo to improve safety. The main changes feature around the chicane just after the exit of the tunnel, where Sergio Perez suffered a concussion after crashing heavily in qualifying last year
Audi completes Ducati acquisition
Audi has completed its long-rumoured acquisition of Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.. Audi AG chairman Rupert Stadler said Ducati was an excellent fit as a 'sporty, global premium brand', as the supervisory boards of both companies signed off the acquisition
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/other-news/motorcycles/motogp/audi-completes-ducati-acquisition
Nissan Working on a Plug-In Hybrid, But Still Iffy on Diesel in U.S.
The CEO of Nissan, Carlos Ghosn, thinks he’s seen the future—and it’s filled with electric cars, some with range-extending gasoline engines. Before we arrive at Ghosn’s utopian era, Nissan will offer more transitional products: A new Altima hybrid is in the pipes, as is plug-in hybrid tech in general. “Plug-in hybrid technology is a promising [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/TC1r_RZUOWU/
PHOTOS: SUNDAY ROCKINGHAM SPEEDWAY, KASEY KAHNE WINS
PHOTO CREDIT: NASCARMEDIA (USED WITH PERMISSION)
Source: http://thefinallap.com/2012/04/16/photos-sunday-rockingham-speedway-kasey-kahne-wins/
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Jackson takes second Donington win
Mat Jackson took his second win of the day in a dramatic British Touring Car Championship reversed-grid race at Donington Park on Sunday. A fast start from row two gave the Motorbase Ford Focus driver the lead into Redgate, but a slide when Jackson got there allowed Dave Newsham's ES Racing Vauxhall Vectra and Rob Collard's WSR BMW to go by. A mistake by Collard at the Old Hairpin on lap three caused mayhem.
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/other-news/touring-cars/btcc/jackson-takes-second-donington-win
NASCAR Nationwide Series Crew Chief Fined For Infractions At Texas Motor Speedway
NASCAR Logo LargeDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Month Day, 2012) – NASCAR announced today that Wayne Grubb, crew chief of the No. 27 car in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, has been fined for violations during this past weekend’s event at Texas Motor Speedway. Grubb was fined $2,500 for violation of Section 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car...more»
Johanna Long To Attend Charlotte Auto Fair
Johanna Long - Photo Credit: Rainier Ehrhardt / Getty Images for NASCARJohanna Long will be making an appearance at the Spring Charlotte Auto Fair. Long will be at the Keen Parts Trailer from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Friday April 20th, 2012. She will be available to sign autographs and to get your picture...more»
Citroën Numéro 9 Concept: More of What We Love From the French
Citroën’s premium DS line is two years old, and now the French are launching another stunning concept car. Called Numéro 9, dedicated to the DS sub-brand, and to be shown at the Beijing auto show next week, it hints at three future models: a mid-size and a full-size premium sedan, and an SUV. Its two-box [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/L0HvK4f3GcM/
Menu takes Marrakech opener
Alain Menu continued Chevrolet's domination of the 2012 World Touring Car Championship by leading a clean sweep of the podium positions for the RML-run Cruzes in race one at Marrakech. The Swiss led every lap from pole position on way to his second WTCC victory in as many races, following his reversed-grid success at Valencia. Menu was untroubled by an early safety car period and executed a perfect restart to hold off his team-mate Rob Huff by a second at the chequered flag
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/other-news/touring-cars/wtcc/menu-takes-marrakech-opener
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
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Raikkonen disappointed with Lotus pace
Kimi Raikkonen admitted he was disappointed with the pace of his car during qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix. Although the Finn will start from a season-best fourth position, he said he was expecting his Lotus to be quicker after the promise of the first two races
Wake Up, America, and Start Liking Wagons: 2014 Audi RS6 Avant Caught Testing on the Nürburgring
What It Is: A 2014 Audi RS6 Avant prototype decked out in swirly camouflage and undergoing testing at the Nürburgring in Germany. The current A6 sedan and wagon were introduced last year, as was the latest S6 sedan, so it was only a matter of time before we caught a glimpse of the anticipated higher-performance [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/355U41FJFuU/2014-audi-rs6-avant-spy-photos-news
China Sunday quotes: Caterham
Vitaly Petrov - 18th: "I am really pleased with my performance today. I think we got as much out of the car as we could and the fact we were on the same lap as the leaders right up until the final lap is a very positive sign. We brought some updates here and they've worked out pretty well - the key for us is to keep pushing, keep bringing new parts to the car and make sure we maintain the momentum we are building up." Heikki Kovalainen - 23rd: "I had a good start, getting up to 16th off the line and then was running pretty well for the first stint on the options
Citroën Numéro 9 Concept: More of What We Love From the French
Citroën’s premium DS line is two years old, and now the French are launching another stunning concept car. Called Numéro 9, dedicated to the DS sub-brand, and to be shown at the Beijing auto show next week, it hints at three future models: a mid-size and a full-size premium sedan, and an SUV. Its two-box [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/L0HvK4f3GcM/
Prepping for July Bike-Share Launch, DOT Shows Prelim Station Sites to CB 3
In a few weeks, the bike-share station map that accompanies this legend will be available online. Image: NYC DOT
After several months of public meetings and online feedback on bike-share station siting, NYC DOT is beginning to tour community boards with preliminary station maps in preparation for launching North America’s most expansive bike-share system this July.
Yesterday [...]
After several months of public meetings and online feedback on bike-share station siting, NYC DOT is beginning to tour community boards with preliminary station maps in preparation for launching North America’s most expansive bike-share system this July.
Yesterday [...]
RAB Racing Reinstates John Wes Townley: NASCAR Fan Reaction (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
On March 23, RAB Racing announced that driver John Wes Townley has been reinstated and will be able to compete at the Camping World Truck Series Kroger 250 on March 31. Townley was officially placed on probation by NASCAR on March 22 because of a previous DUI arrest.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Menu takes pole in Marrakech
Swiss veteran Alain Menu claimed his first pole position of the season in an exceptionally closely contested World Touring Car Championship qualifying session in Marrakech. Fresh from a victory in the preceding round at Valencia, Menu denied his RML Chevrolet team-mate Rob Huff pole position by virtue of a last gasp effort, edging Huff from the top spot by just 0.028 seconds at the completion of his final lap.
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/other-news/touring-cars/wtcc/menu-takes-pole-in-marrakech
Mike Conway signs with AJ Foyt Racing for the 2012 Indy Car season
AJ Foyt Racing Mike Conway London, UK - Tuesday 20th December 2011 Long Beach Grand Prix winner Mike Conway has signed with AJ Foyt Racing to drive the No. 14 ABC Supply Honda in the 2012 IZOD IndyCar Series....
Source: http://www.motorsportsjournal.com/archives/2011/12/mike_conway_signs_with_aj.php
Monster Energy Team 30th After Night Ends Early At Texas Motor Speedway
“Friday the 13th bites team and driver at Texas Motor Speedway” Kyle Busch Motorsports (KBM)Date: April 13, 2012 Event: O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 (Race 6 of 33) Series: NASCAR Nationwide Series Location: Texas Motor Speedway (1.5-mile oval) Start / Finish: 6th / 30th (Over Heating, completed 187 of 200 laps) Winner: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. of...more»
To Prep for Upcoming F-type Roadster, Jaguar Shows Off Classic C-, D-, and E-types in New York [Photo Gallery]
Jaguar’s New York auto show activities most notably included the announcement of the new F-type roadster, after which three F-type predecessors gleamed in front of a swank SoHo restaurant. We were there, too, but found it hard to go inside with the beauties parked outside. On display were a 1952 Jaguar C-type, the tenth example [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/caranddriver/blog/~3/F0vFlXxxmxE/
Jackson wins Donington opener
Mat Jackson won a hard fought first British Touring Car Championship race of the day at Donington Park.
Source: http://www.iracing.com/inracingnews/other-news/touring-cars/btcc/jackson-wins-donington-opener
TRUCKS: Kahne Wins At Rockingham
Kasey Kahne flies in from Fort Worth, then wins another Truck Series race…
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