Two large luxury cars earn 2010 Top Safety Pick award

 Cars and Motorcycles  No Responses »
May 132010
 

The Hyundai Genesis and redesigned Mercedes E class, both large luxury cars, earn 2010 TOP SAFETY PICK awards. The award recognizes the vehicles that earn the top rating of good for front, side, rollover, and rear crash protection, and that have electronic stability control, which is standard on both of these cars.

The Genesis was introduced in the 2009 model year. During the 2010 model year, Hyundai made changes to the roof structure to improve protection in rollover crashes. The TOP SAFETY PICK award applies to Genesis models built after January 2010.

The E class was redesigned for the 2010 model year. This is the first time the E class has earned the Institute’s top safety designation. Earlier this year design changes were made to the padding in the front and rear doors to improve protection in side impact crashes. The Top Safety Pick award applies to E class models built after March 2010.

FORD AND U-M USE SOCIALLY CONNECTED ROAD TRIP TO DEBUT CAR AS NEXT PLATFORM FOR CLOUD COMPUTING

 Cars and Motorcycles  No Responses »
May 132010
 

  • Ford’s American Journey 2.0 research project concludes with first-ever social media-connected road trip from Ann Arbor, Mich., to Maker Faire in San Mateo, Calif.; Ford engineers, University of Michigan (U-M) students demonstrate first-ever auto-centric cloud-based apps
  • Ford-developed apps include “Auto”matic Blog, which will allow the car, known as “@AJtheFiesta,” to periodically tweet its interpretation of the journey based on vehicle telemetrics; another app will automatically check-in the team via Foursquare at stops and points-of-interest
  • The road trip involves stops at three major universities; each serves as part of a larger Ford effort to excite potential customers while showing tangible proof of the company’s commitment to leading the convergence of the automobile and Internet through open innovation
ANN ARBOR, Mich., May 12, 2010 – Two Ford Fiestas will leave the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor on May 13, and though the cars may be separate, they will be linked to each other and to the entire global community in ways that mark a new era in mobile connectivity.

Embarking upon a week-long road trip to Maker Faire, Silicon Valley’s annual ideas festival, the Fiestas and their occupants will be serving as messengers from Ford announcing the arrival of the car as a technology platform.

Continue reading »

Video: Forza 3 DLC Trailer – Exotic Car Pack

 Cars and Motorcycles, Games  No Responses »
May 132010
 

33 Porsche 911 in Nurburgring 24hrs

 Cars and Motorcycles  No Responses »
May 132010
 

  • Porsche factory squad and customer teams tackle Germany’s greatest motorsport event
  • The largest line-up of Porsche 911 race cars in many years – including debut of GT3 R Hybrid
  • A total of 33 vehicles featuring the characteristic six-cylinder Porsche ‘boxer’ engine
  • British journalist Chris Harris takes the wheel of ‘street legal’ 911 GT3 RS
  • Londoner Richard Westbrook drives a 911 GT3 R for Haribo Team Manthey
  • 38th edition of the Nürburgring 24 hour race takes place on 15/16 May

Porsche takes to the starting line for the Nürburging 24 Hours race this weekend (May 15/16) with a powerful line-up of 911 race cars from diverse backgrounds. The title defenders from Manthey Racing take up the race at the wheel of the number one car, the new, 480 hp 911 GT3 R, piloted by Porsche works drivers Timo Bernhard (Germany), Romain Dumas (France) and Marc Lieb (Germany), as well as Manthey pilot Marcel Tiemann (Monaco) pilot.

The winning squad already signalled their determination to bring home the fifth straight overall victory in the first two races run as preparations for the marathon around the iconic race circuit in the Eifel mountains in Germany. At rounds one and two of the VLN Long Distance Championship Nürburgring, the team’s yellow and green racer saw the chequered flag in first place. “I was impressed with the new 911 GT3 R right from the start with its extremely predictable handling and reliability,” enthused Timo Bernhard. “And those are exactly the qualities you need in an endurance race car if you want to finish without problems and climb to the very top of the podium.”

Continue reading »

Spy Video: 2011 BMW X3

 Cars and Motorcycles  No Responses »
May 132010
 

Mirror, mirror on the wall…Who’s the most innovative of them all? BMW Canada becomes first car company to flirt with customers using innovative new advertising medium.

 Cars and Motorcycles  No Responses »
May 132010
 

Richmond Hill, ON. BMW Canada is the first auto manufacturer – and one of the first companies in Canada – to make use of an innovative new advertising tool, and is doing so with flare. Flirting with potential customers in an undeniably high-traffic area, the premium car company is reaching audiences through the mirrors in restrooms of strategically-selected venues in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver throughout April and May.

AddMirrorTM is a unique marketing medium that enables creative marketers to reach a large audience in a memorable, engaging manner. For BMW’s campaign, ads will appear as patrons approach restroom mirrors. A motion detector senses the patron’s movement and sets a sequence of ads in motion, creating a captivating and irresistible communication chain that leaves readers wanting more.

“This campaign is a perfect fit for the new BMW 3 Series Coupé,” said Marc Belcourt, brand communications manager, BMW Group Canada. “It’s innovative, creative and unexpected, and allows us to position our product as highly desirable in a way that engages people, just as our brand does. This particular campaign is also pretty sexy, just like this vehicle.”

The BMW AddMirror campaign targets men from 25 to 45 years old. Flirty messages are scripted on restroom mirrors in what appears to be hot red lipstick. With messages such as “I’ll make your heart pound” and “My body is absolutely stunning,” the initiative is sure to capture attention, and concludes by urging readers to text in for photos of the subject leaving the love notes. Once the text is received, a link is sent back to the user, leading them to a landing page with the headline “We were made for each other,” as well as downloadable beauty shots of the new BMW 3 Series Coupé.

Continue reading »

Video: Speak & Spell VS The 1986 Chrysler New Yorker

 Cars and Motorcycles  No Responses »
May 132010
 

TOYOTA’S MIGHTY HILUX AIDS LAWN MOWER WORLD LAND SPEED RECORD ATTEMPT

 Cars and Motorcycles  1 Response »
May 132010
 

Toyota’s legendary pick-up, crowned indestructible by BBC’s Top Gear, and present at the recent eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafallajökull volcano, is supporting Project Runningblade, the British attempt on the world land speed record for a lawn mower on 22–23 May 2010 at Pendine Sands, South Wales.

The purpose of the project is to build a conventional lawn mower, still capable of cutting grass, but adapt it to drive at speeds reaching 100mph. Driven by Don Wales, nephew of Donald Campbell, the aim is an attempt to smash a previous 80.7929 mph record, set by Bob Cleveland at Bonneville Salt Flats, USA, in 2006.

The team has been using a 3.0-litre D-4D Double Cab Toyota Hilux as their key support vehicle throughout the project, transporting the ‘super mower’ to the final event at Pendine Sands.

“We are enormously impressed with the Hilux’s performance,” says Stephen Vokins, Team Principal and leader of the project.

“The four-wheel drive capability and the load space have also been extremely useful to the team, and the Hilux regularly transports the mower to shows around the country in the build-up to the record attempt.”

In addition to claiming the record for Britain, the project also aims to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital and Wessex Heart Beat. For more information of how you can donate to the project, please visit www.projectrunningblade.co.uk.

2011 Chevrolet Cruze Engines Use Eco-friendly Cartridge Oil Filter

 Cars and Motorcycles  No Responses »
May 132010
 

The 2011 Chevrolet Cruze will make proper oil filter disposal and recycling easier. The Ecotec 1.4L turbo and 1.8L four-cylinder engines will use a cartridge style oil filter which is easier to recycle and service compared to the conventional steel canister-style oil filters.

Recycling canister style filters requires that the metal housing and other elements, like the rubber seal, be cut away or separated, whereas the compact cartridge style is made of only paper and plastic. Because of this, proper disposal of the oil filter is easier for recycling centers.

Another benefit of the cartridge-style filter is that it can be changed easily and is virtually drip free from the top of the vehicle. This lessens the chance of oil dripping to the ground or driveway and possibly making its way into the water system when performing oil changes.

The housing for the cartridge-style filter is part of the engine and reused for the life of the engine. It never needs replacing. The housing also has a screw-on replaceable cap that eliminates the conventional canister-to-engine mating surface that is a potential source of leaks.

To find out more on how and where to properly recycle oil filters go to www.filtercouncil.org.

G-SHOCK TURNS HEADS WITH THE RELEASE OF THE X-LARGE COMBI TIMEPIECE – New Large Face G-Shock with Futuristic Appeal

 Fashion  No Responses »
May 132010
 

Heeding the call of watch aficionados and G-Shock fans worldwide, Casio America Inc. proudly debuts the G-Shock X-Large Combi (GA100). A formidable analog and digital wrist watch, the GA100 features an extra large 55.0 x 51.2 x 16.9 mm case.

Upholding the distinct G-Shock lineage, the GA100 features the “Three Eyes” (found on its predecessors the DW5900, DW6900 and GW-500) while maintaining unsurpassed water and shock resistance native to all G-Shock watches. A soon-to-be collector’s item, the GA100 includes a riveted dial ring and embossed index that creates a three-dimensional effect on the watch face.

“The G-Shock GA100 is testament of our commitment to our consumers,” said Shigenori Itoh, Vice President of Casio’s Timepiece Division. “We have listened closely and delivered a stylish, large-face, technically advanced timepiece”

Additional GA100 features include large side buttons with anti-skid finish for enhanced functionality, shock resistance, 200M water resistance, magnetic resistant (JIS Class Level I magnetic resistance protects against the effects of magnetic fields. Equivalent to ISO Standard 764), Auto LED Light with Afterglow, 48 City World Time, 1/100 Second Chronograph, and 4 Daily Alarms and 1 Snooze Alarm, and Hourly Time Signal

Available in three fashion forward hues, sentinel black (GA100-1A4), crisp white (GA100A-7A) and hazard yellow (GA100A-9A) for $99. For more information please visit www.gshock.com

Continue reading »

All clear given for market launch of the BMW M3 GTS. (price confirmed in Germany)

 Cars and Motorcycles  No Responses »
May 132010
 

Munich. The history of BMW M3 motor sport has been enriched by a further fascinating chapter as the BMW M3 GTS celebrates its debut on the racetrack and on the road. In terms of performance and safety, the most powerful version of the high-performance BMW M3 Coupe featuring a 331 kW/450 bhp engine offers the ideal preconditions for use at club sport events, whilst at the same time being officially road-legal. The BMW M3 GTS is produced at the BMW M GmbH manufacturing facility. In addition to a larger and more powerful V8 engine, exclusive tuning of the 7-speed M Dual Clutch Transmission with Drivelogic and modified suspension technology, the car, which is designed for club sport use, has also been specifically optimised with regard to aerodynamics and lightweight construction.

The supreme sporting potential of the BMW M3 GTS is underlined, inter alia, by a power-to-weight ratio that has been lowered to 3.4 kg per hp. Featuring a transmission and suspension configuration which has been optimised for the racetrack, the BMW M3 GTS accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in a mere 4.4 seconds. The car reaches the 1000 metre mark from a standstill in just 22.5 seconds. Top speed is 305 km/h.

“The BMW M3 is an icon and internationally synonymous with the highest level of dynamics,” explains Dr. Kay Segler, CEO of the BMW M GmbH. “Our aim was to develop a model variant that would prove its outstanding potential both on the road and at club sport racing events. The BMW M3 GTS is pure M feeling, embodying the brand values in a highly concentrated form.”

Continue reading »

Video: Top Gear caught in action. Over excited parents.

 Cars and Motorcycles  No Responses »
May 132010