Gas Station Robber Fails with his Pants Down

In this world, there are dangerous criminals and there are foolish criminals. And if there was ever a more miserable failure of a gas station robber than this guy, we have yet to see one with our own eyes.
But he did manage to enter the station and run out with a case of beers/drinks in less than 30 seconds, so we'll give him that at least. For the rest, check out the video that follows below. 
Source carscoop 
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Damaged McLaren MP4-12C Pops up for Sale, would You Buy it?

Ron Dennis' newest creation, the McLaren MP4-12C, only went on sale in Europe this past spring but we're already seeing the first crashed examples showing up on the used car market.
This silver colored MP4-12C was registered in Holland on August 2011 and covered only 4,000 kilometers (2,486 miles) before its owner drove it into what may have been a ditch judging by the dirt up front and the damage to the car.
The seller says that the British supercar has a cracked windshield and bumper, several scratches while both airbags went off.
The negotiable asking price is €129,500 (about US$169,100 at today's exchange rates). We don't know the MP4-12C's precise MSRP in Holland, but McLaren has said that it costs from €200,000 in the EU.
So, take a look at the photos and tell us what you think; is it worth the hassle for its asking price?
Story References: Marketplaats via Autoblog.nl
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Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Vroom! Scuderia Ferrari Sends Christmas Greetings

It’s the most wonderful time of the year - a year which certainly does not rank among those that the Scuderia Ferrari and its tifosi will consider worthy of the Prancing Horse’s history in Formula 1, having scored only one win and finishing third in the championship.
However, the people from Ferrari’s racing division seem to have been touched by the Christmas spirit, so they put their disappointment aside and had a little fun at work.
The following video shows the team making practice laps in Santa outfits, which we have to admit fit perfectly with the Scuderia Rosso color, while Ferrari chairman, Luca di Montezemolo, along with Ferrari Formula 1 drivers, Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa, talk at length about the outgoing season and their preparations for the next one.
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Audi R8 LMS Ultra to Compete in Next Year's FIA GT1 World Championship as Well

Only a month after the introduction of the improved R8 LMS Ultra and Audi has revealed plans to compete in the FIA GT1 World Championship next year with two examples of its latest GT3 racecar, which will be independently fielded by Team WRT.
The announcement comes after a recent decision by the FIA GT Commission and World Motor Sport Council to develop uniform regulations between the FIA GT1 World and FIA GT3 European Championships, thus allowing the R8 LMS Ultra to fight for a world champion’s title of its own for the first time.
"We very much welcome the decision of the FIA World Motor Sport Council on December 7th in favour of the GT3 cars," said Werner Frowein, Managing Director of quattro GmbH.
"In the future, this vehicle class will not only stand for high-calibre national and European customer sport but also for the world’s pinnacle in GT racing. We are delighted that Team WRT has submitted its entry for the World Championship and will be representing the colours of Audi Sport customer racing."
WRT said that it is planning to select and announce its drivers for the championship before the end of December.
The provisional race calendar for the championship follows below.
2012 FIA GT1 World Championship
Round 1: Apr 08 Nogaro (France)
Round 2: Apr 22 Zolder (Belgium)
Round 3: May 27 Navarra (Spain)
Round 4: Jul 08 Algarve (Portugal)
Round 5: Aug 26 Peking (China)
Round 6: Sep 02 Ordos (China)
Round 7: Sep 16 Moscow (Russia)
Round 8: Oct 07 Zandvoort (Netherlands)
Round 9: Nov 25 San Luis (Argentina)
Round 10: TBA
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Nissan Recalling Near 34,000 Sentra Sedans over Engine Stalling Issue

Nissan has issued a new recall on certain 2010-2011 model year Sentra compact cars because of a battery cable problem that could potentially cause the engines to stall.
In a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Nissan explained that the zinc coating applied to the terminal stud bolt may be too thick and as a result, it could lead to a voltage drop the can damage the engine control module (ECM).
The documents say the problem can cause the engine to stall while the vehicle is in motion and it may not be possible to restart the engine after it stopped.
The recall affects Sentra sedans equipped with MR20 engines, built from May 11-22, 2010, and July 8-October 25, 2010.
The Japanese company said it will notify Sentra owners and replace the positive battery terminal and cover, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or before January 23, 2012.
Source carscoop

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Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Laps the Hockenheim Circuit, Reaches 370km/h [230mph]

There's something about exotic supercars like the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 that gets our motors roaring. We never get tired of watching them no matter how many times we have seen them before.
We're not even going to count how many posts we've written on the 12-cylinder Raging Bull model - though if you're curious, feel free to check them all out here. If you feel the same way, then you'll probably enjoy the video that follows and which comes to us courtesy of German car magazine Sport Auto. The publication took Lamborghini's flagship model over to the Hockenheim circuit in Germany to see how fast it is.
According to Lamborghini, the Aventador LP 700-4 comes equipped with a 6.5-liter V12 engine delivering 700HP and 509 lb-ft of torque for a 0-100 km/h (62mph) sprint time of 2.9 seconds and a top speed of 350km/h (218mph).
The magazine's test car ran the 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint in 3.1 seconds, and reached 200km/h (124mph) in 8.8 seconds. The car's speedometer topped out at 370km/h (229.9mph), though the GPS showed 354km/h (220mph).
The Aventador lapped the Hockenheim in 1:08.6 minutes, which ties it with the Porsche Carrera GT, and makes it marginally faster than the McLaren MP4 12-C (1:08.7) but slower than the Porsche 911 GT2 RS (1:08.4).
Scroll to watch the video for yourself.
Source carscoop
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Eterniti Preparing Production Version of Hemera SUV as well as Two More Models

To say that your new model is “like an SUV version of the M5” is quite a bold statement -especially if you are a brand-new manufacturer, with no previous record and you intend to compete at the high end of the market.
Nevertheless, that’s exactly what Alastair Mcqueen, chief engineer of London-based Eterniti Motors, which made its existence known at the 64th Frankfurt Motor Show, says about the brand’s first model, the Hemera.
The Hemera is based on the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S, but it’s not your normal tuning job, just as Eterniti is not your normal tuning house.
First of all, it’s a boutique British carmaker with a total of 12 employees that for its best model “borrowed the best large SUV platform available”, i.e. the Cayenne. The Frankfurt-launched concept sported a modified chassis and interior as well as changes to the drivetrain.
The roof and the pillars are kept unchanged but everything else is redesigned with an extensive use of carbonfiber parts. Inside, the rear seats were moved back 120 mm offering improved space for passengers –but since the wheelbase remains the same, it has had a negative effect on the trunk.
Mcqueen’s claim about the “M5 of SUVs” is not just based on the 600HP churned out by the turbocharged V8, but also to the tuning of the suspension and the right height.
The production version of this “super SUV", as it is billed by its creators, will make its debut at the 2012 Beijing Motor Show next April, since it is primarily aimed at the Chinese market, although the company plans dealerships also in Hong Kong and the UK.
The SUV will probably have a different name, though, and will be produced in limited numbers: just 80 cars in 2012, 150 in 2013 and 200 from 2014 onwards.
The interesting part, though, is that Eterniti is not restricting its activities to modifying the Cayenne. It has already announced that it is developing a supercar, without providing any additional info though about on which model it will be based, saying only that “it’s coming soon”, and is currently contemplating adding a third model to its range, most likely another SUV.
Story References: Car Magazine
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Cadillac Engineers Try to Perfect the 2013 ATS on the Nordschleife [Video]

the new 2013 ATS, the Detroit firm's engineers explain to us why they chose the Nürburgring racetrack to complete the development of their soon-to-be revealed compact sports sedan.
"There's no other facility in the world like this. You can accomplish more in one lap around the 'Ring than you can running probably a dozen tracks in the U.S." says David Mikels, energy and powertrain integration engineer for the Cadillac ATS.
"There are places you go airborne around the track, there's full compression loading, you know, as you come through a valley. You can't experience all those things in any one facility anywhere the world except here," Mikels added.
Cadillac recently dropped some details on the ATS' engine lineup that will include a new 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder along with the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter and 3.6-liter V6 units. The brand's Audi A4 and BMW 3-Series rival will make its first public outing at next month's Detroit Motor Show. 
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BMW Reveals New "Eclipse" Media Campaign for the 2013 6-Series Gran Coupe

Despite the fact that the 6-Series Grand Coupe’s world premiere will take place in March at the Geneva Motor Show and the first cars won't be arriving in showrooms until next summer, BMW has already readied a media campaign for its spanking new sports saloon.
The global campaign, which will launch in print and TV media in the second quarter of 2012, features a total eclipse of the sun as the central theme and the motto “Beauty. Revealed”.
BMW tells us that the beginning of the commercial, the new version of the 6-Series will be barely visible, but as the eclipse progresses, the firm's newest model will gradually come into light. When the eclipse ends, the sun will come out and the Gran Coupe will be fully revealed.
“The new BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe marks the beginning of a new chapter. It is BMW’s first four-door coupé and combines uncompromising driving dynamics with exclusive elegance and breath-taking design”, said head of BMW communications Andreas-Christoph Hofmann. “The campaign uses the image of a solar eclipse to highlight the model’s uniqueness.”
You can take a peek at the print ads right after the break.
Source carscoop 
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GM Confirms Next Generation Impala, will Invest $68 Million to Prep Oshawa Plant

The Impala is a historic nameplate for Chevrolet with roots that go back to the golden era of American automobiles, the 1950s, and it's one that General Motors isn't about to let go despite the fact that the series has faded away into mediocrity these past years.
Today, the Detroit-based company confirmed plans for the development of a brand new Chevy Impala and announced an investment of $68 million to prepare its Oshawa Assembly Plant in Canada for the production of the next generation sedan.
In addition, GM revealed that it expects to meet high customer demand, and as a result, it will build the next Chevrolet Impala at both the Oshawa Assembly Plant and the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant.
Combined with the recent investment to support the production of the upcoming Cadillac XTS in 2012, GM's investment at the Oshawa plant will reach $185 million, which will create or retain around 750 jobs.
“With the investments for the Chevrolet Impala and Cadillac XTS, we are taking big steps forward to ensure we maximize the flexible manufacturing facility and high-quality workforce that exist in Oshawa,” said Kevin Williams, president and managing director of General Motors of Canada.
“We are building on the recent capacity increases, product launches and shift additions at our Canadian operations to affirm that Canada will play an important role in the new GM as we continue to transform our product lineup,” he added. 
Source carscoop

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GM Boss Mark Reuss Builds a Fantasy Supercar Out of the Company’s Parts Bin

Almost every car fan has, at one point or another, considered building his ideal car: for example, one with a Ferrari or Lamborghini bodywork, a Pagani interior, a Veyron engine, Porsche everyday usability and all this at the price of a used 300,000-mile Ford Escort…
Well, the automotive term for this is a parts bin special; that is, a model built by borrowing only (or mostly) existing parts from other models. Mark Reuss, GM’s North American president, was asked by Car & Driver to assemble his dream car by using components that already exist on the company’s shelves.We have to admit that, even though General Motors is not the first carmaker that comes to mind when picking components to assemble our dream car, Reuss has managed to conjure a pretty interesting vehicle.
The bodywork would come from the 2002 Cadillac Cien concept, which Reuss believes “defined Cadillac”.
Up front, the Chevrolet Volt's 149HP electric motor would power the front wheels, while GM’s turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 linked to a Corvette differential would power the rear axle, making the car an all-wheel drive hybrid.
The Volt would also donate its T-shaped battery pack (after it has been cleared by the NHTSA, we presume), mounted between the seats and wirelessly charged through an inductive mat making cables unnecessary.
America’s favorite supercar, the Corvette, would contribute in the handling department with its magnetorheological dampers and the ZR1's carbon-ceramic brakes, while GM’s pony car, the Camaro, would provide the ZL1’s Goodyear F1 SuperCar G performance tires.
Reuss is even talking numbers: the hybrid powertrain would churn out a total of 440HP and 450 lb-ft of torque, enough for a 0-60mph [96km/h] acceleration time of 3.2 seconds. In fact, he went as far as predicting his dream car’s Nürburgring lap time: 7:46. Not ZR-1 or GT-R territory, but quite fast nevertheless.
What about the interior? Well, Reuss would choose the suede steering wheel from the Caddy CTS-V linked to an electric-power steering system, the Recaro bucket seats from the Opel Insignia OPC and a Volt-like multifunction display for energy and VBox info.
Last, but not least, GM North America's president would like his dream car to have a silent interior when in EV mode so he would add a Bose active-noise cancelling system and offer perfect visibility courtesy of a Hughes night-vision system, front and rear cameras and a blind-spot monitoring system.
We applaud Mr Rauss' choices, which would make for one of the best "parts bin special" GM has ever thought of building.
He did omit one thing though: his passenger of choice. Therefore, we feel compelled to make a suggestion: Gisele. She did make a name for herself in the automotive crowd in a CTS-V after all...
Story References: Car&Driver , Photo Illustration: Carscoop

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1969 Dodge Charger V/C: Are You Happy to See me or is that a Viper Under Your Hood?

We've seen the Viper's 10-cylinder engine slithering out of its old skin and sliding under the bonnet of many different cars ranging from a Chrysler PT Cruiser and a 300 sedan, to a Dodge Challenger and a Saab 9-3 Sport Combi, but what could be more fitting than seeing it in a classic muscle car like the 1969 Dodge Charger?This bad boy was found for sale on eBay with the seller claiming to have modified or replaced just about everything on the original 1969 Charger, from the upper and lower control arms and the independent rear suspension to the rack and pinion steering system, all of which are said to have been sourced from the Viper.
The highlight of the Charger V/C is of course the driveline that includes the third generation Viper's massive 505 cu.in. (8.3-liter) V10 engine (slightly massaged) and manual gearbox. You can read more details about the upgrades in the seller's description below.
At the time this article was written, the highest bid for the '69 Viper V/C on eBay was US$80,200 [€61,400] but the seller's reserve had not been met.

From eBay Seller's Description:
Let me start by saying you never seen another car like this one. If you think it looks like any other 69 Charger, look again. The only thing under the car that is Charger is the front frame rails. The rest of the cars chassis is hand built to accommodate the complete Gen 3 Viper drive line..
The car was built by a local shop and the completion took a few years and the final result was worth it. Everything was hand built, fitted, welded, bolted then taken apart to be painted in the mile deep GLOSS BLACK. The under side, door jams, under the hood and trunk lid have a better paint job than most cars do on the outside!
The original plan was to put the Viper V-10 engine in the Charger, then that led to putting the whole drive line in which required the rear frame & floors to be hand built. Then that led to customizing the whole car.
After it's completion there has been 320 test miles on it. Everything works and is a joy to drive as you can image. The V-10 was completely rebuilt with some goodies added, the interior is leather and cloth, with power windows and a Kenwood Stereo with Navigation in the special built console. There is a aluminum radiator, and hand made air cleaner and air inlets.
The wheels and tires are new Viper ones, the exhaust is built to come out of the side of the car(see pic). There is nothing hanging low, everything is tucked and hidden nice.
The pics and description do NOT do this car justice! If you see anything wrong with the paint, let me tell you it is a reflection from the paint. The car is the most straight and shiny black car I have ever seen.
I will probably revise this listing many times due to so many things I have forgot.
I have more pics if you want. Non-refundable $500 due within 24 hours of auctions end. No warranty, sold as is. If you have less than 10 feedback or neg. feedback or no money, don't bid before talking to me.
If you want to talk to me, send your phone number, I will not post it.
*When I said the front frame rails were the only stock part left, I should have said up until the firewall. From the firewall forward it is hand built k-member with Viper upper and lower control arms with rack and pinion steering. The rear is Viper independent suspension.
*The gas tank is hidden between the back seat and the trunk panel. The battery is in the trunk. The Air Cond. is hidden under the dash with the lines behind the pass. front wheel in the wheel well.

Source carscoop

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And the North American Car and Truck of the Year Finalists are…

For the past 18 years, a committee of journalists from U.S. and Canadian magazines, radio and TV stations, websites and newspapers meet once a year and vote for the North American Car and Truck of the Year [NACTOY].
You'll have to wait until January to find the winners for the 2012 edition of the North American Car and Truck of the Year, but the three finalists for each category were announced on Thursday in Detroit.
The car candidates in alphabetical order are the new Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra and the U.S. market VW Passat, which recently won Motor Trend's 2012 Car of the Year award.
We're not sure how the enlightened committee defines the word "truck", but the final shortlist in this category includes the new BMW X3, Honda CR-V and Range Rover Evoque.
The jurors have until January 6 to vote among these vehicles, with the final results to be announced on January 11 during the 2012 Detroit Motor Show.
So far, domestic automakers have won the North American Car of the Year award 10 times, European automakers four times, Japanese automakers three times and a Korean manufacturer only once.
On the truck side, domestic automakers have won the award 12 times, Japanese automakers four times and European automakers twice.
For those of you wondering, here are the vehicles that made it to the jurors’ short list this year:
North American Car of the Year:
Audi A6
Audi A7
Buick Verano
Chevrolet Sonic
Chrysler 300/SRT-8
Fiat 500
Ford Focus
Hyundai Accent
Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai Veloster
Kia Rio/Rio 5
Scion iQ
Subaru Impreza
Toyota Camry
Toyota Prius V
VW Beetle
VW Passat
North American Truck of the Year:
BMW X3
Honda CR-V
Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
Mercedes-Benz M-Class
Mini Countryman
Nissan Quest
Saab 9-4X
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Talk About Dodging a Bullet: Extremely Close Call with Semi Truck Caught on Film

This in one of those cases that not one person would believe how close you came to meeting your maker without video proof. Fortunately for us, the driver of the car involved in this close call had a dashboard mounted camera that recorded the entire incident on film.
Basically, what we have here are two careless drivers that created a potentially deadly accident scene with their foolish actions as both attempted to overtake a vehicle on a relatively narrow road under freezing conditions. See how it went down in the video after the break.

Thanks for the tip Miranda and Alexey!

Source carscoop 

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2013 Mercedes-Benz SL: Feast Your Eyes on 60 High-Res Photos and the First Official Videos

The last couple of days, the sixth-generation of the Mercedes-Benz SL roadster has been one of the hottest subjects on the web – and rightly so, as it introduces several new technologies that will eventually trickle down to the premium automaker's other models.
There's a lot to mention, but one of the highlights is the aluminum bodywork, which significantly reduces weight and has a positive effect on both agility and handling as well as fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
The SL also features updated V6 and V8 engines that offer better performance and improved economy, as well as new advanced active and passive safety systems, all of which have been discussed in our previews reports.
The world premiere of the hardtop-roadster will take place at the 2012 Detroit Motor Show next month, but in the meantime, feel free to take a look at a fresh batch of high-resolution pictures and the first official videos right after the jump.

 Source carscoop
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SPIED: 2013 BMW 3 or 4 Series Convertible with Retractable Hardtop

Until BMW makes an official statement on what it has decided to name the replacements for today's 3-Series Coupe and Convertible models, we'll have to keep using both the 3- and 4-Series monikers to describe the two-door body styles of the Bavarian maker's most popular model. Over the past few months and aside from the official presentation of the sedan in October, we have shown you spy shots of the next M3 sedan, the 3-Series Touring, the 3 or 4-Series Coupe, and the 3- or 4-Series Gran Turismo fastback, but this is the first time we're sharing scoops of the Convertible model.
As evident from the photos, BMW will stick with the current model's more practical folding hardtop solution and a four-seat layout, with the convertible sharing most of its exterior parts and bespoke styling cues with the coupe model of the series.
There are a lot of changes going on under the hood as BMW is killing its legendary naturally aspirated inline-six gasoline engines and replacing them with a new lineup of turbocharged four-cylinder units, namely a 1.6-liter for Europe and a global 2.0-liter with up to 240HP at launch.
A blown straight-six with 300HP (306HP in the EU) will be the most powerful engine of the range until BMW pops the M badge on the boot.
A selection of turbocharged diesels will also be on offer in Europe and other markets.
We anticipate the cabriolet to debut about the same time as the coupe late next year or in the beginning of 2013. Stay tuned for more details.
Photo Credits: CarPix
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Second Video Teaser on BMW's New X6 Powered by M, Likely Sports a Diesel Engine

While BMW officials remain extremely tight lipped on what's hiding under the hood of their brand new X6 Powered by M model, the company has published a second video teaser of the sporty crossover.
This time, along with the new blurred views of the X6 Powered by M, we also get to hear some statements from BMW M's people.
Brian Watts, head of global sales and marketing BMW M Gmbh, said: "This is a new kind of car. On every road, you feel like you're on a race track. It deserves the M badge"
Thomas Schemera, director of sales division BMW M Gmbh, adds: "It looks like a sports machine, it sounds like a sport machine that is powered by BMW M. The steering is amazing for a street car."
The word through the grapevine is that it’s the new X6 M50d, the first diesel-powered BMW to wear the M badge, possibly featuring a tri-turbocharged straight-six oil-burner with close to 400 horses.
Story References: BMW/Youtube via Worldcarfans
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Captured on Camera: Russian Style Highway Robbery in a Volvo S80

Unless these men had one drink too many and were in desperate need to use the can, we are forced to conclude from what we see in this video footage sourced from a dashboard camera mounted on a trailing vehicle, that they either clobbered or stole from someone, perhaps even both.
The clip starts with a black Volvo S80 driving normally on a traffic jammed road, allegedly somewhere in Moscow, Russia, but as soon as the cars in front stop, the driver pulls the vehicle diagonally on the road and then three men dressed in black jump out of the car.
Moments later, the three men return to the car, with two of them seemingly holding some goods in their hands. The driver then quickly enters the opposite side of the road, crashing his way out.
See it for yourself in the clip just past the break.
Source carscoop
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Ford Extends its Participation in the WRC until 2013

Ford's European division announced on Thursday that it is extending its participating in the FIA World Rally Championship into 2012 and 2013. Ford’s WRC program will continue to be operated by UK-based M-Sport.
The team will be named Ford World Rally Team and will retain support from Castrol for the next two years. Ford’s “weapon” of choice will be the Fiesta RS WRC, which made its debut this year and claimed the first three places in the first and the last races of the season.
Jari-Matti Latvala and co-driver Miikka Anttila, who won the most special stages in the 2011 championship, will be the team leaders, while 2003 world champion Peter Solberg and co-driver Chris Patterson will drive the second Fiesta RS WRC in next year's championship.
Gerard Quinn, Ford of Europe’s senior manager for motorsport, commented: “The WRC is motorsport’s toughest competition for production-based cars. We have a great team with M-Sport and its leader, Malcolm Wilson, and in Jari-Matti Latvala we have one of motorsport’s rising stars. Already regarded by many as the fastest driver in WRC, this year he showed consistency and expertise on all surfaces.”
Quinn added that the addition of Solberg, who drove for Ford in 1999, “brings one of the sport’s most experienced and flamboyant drivers back to the team where he started his top-level career."
Source carscoop

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Bentley Defies Crisis with a 20% Increase in Global Sales

Crisis? What crisis? For you and me, perhaps, but not for Bentley buyers. The VW-owned British luxury carmaker announced today a 20% increase in global sales for the first half of 2011 with 2,978 cars delivered to customers, the best start for the company since 2008. The luxury marque attributes this surge in sales to the high demand for the new Continental GT as well as the increasing popularity in (least we forget, communist…) China, where Bentley sales have risen by 57% compared to the same period last year, to 680 cars. Thus, it has become the manufacturer’s second best market, behind only the US (George Orwell's "Animal Farm", anyone?).
Not to be outdone by China, the capitalist West has contributed its fair, albeit smaller, share to Bentley’s rise. In Europe, sales have increased by 25% (494 cars) and in the USA by 23% (907 cars). Only in Japan, due to the recent catastrophic natural disasters, and the Middle East, where political unrest rules, have sales declined.
So, well done Bentley - and well done to all the fat cats out there, be they…capitalists or…communists, who are rapidly increasing in numbers each day.
Source carscoop

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Report: Owners Leasing Cars May Be Able to Make a Profit

 

With the recent surge in used car prices in the U.S., many people leasing vehicles have discovered the surprising fact that the market value of their automobiles is greater than the dealer’s quoted residual (buyout) price.

All a would-be lessee needs to do is buy the car from the dealer and sell it on privately. The dealer gets the residual amount and the former lessee pockets a tidy sum.
Take the example of a 2008 Volvo XC90. With more than twelve months left on the lease, the dealer’s buyout price was a quoted US$18,500. Compare this to the amount the lessee was likely to get by selling the car privately: a far more substantial US$27,000. That’s a profit of US$8,500!
Paul Taylor, chief economist for the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) describes the situation thusly:
“What’s likely to happen now is [dealers have] underestimated the value of the car. So the residual price is low, and [lessees] have more incentive to purchase it. Or, buy it and then sell it.”
It’s all thanks to the undersupplied, overinflated used car market in the U.S. at the present time. Add to that the fact many lease contracts are agreed on months or even years in advance, there’s nothing the lessees can do about it.
And owners are taking notice. 21.8% of lessees now buy their cars, up from a historical average of 16.4%. Additionally, 40% of those who do buy their cars resell their cars within six months, up from 27.3%. We are living in interesting times, indeed.

By Tristan Hankins

Via: NY Times

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Audi Q3 RS Rumors give Birth to Rendering

The latest news from Audi is that the Ingolstadt automaker is working on a high-performance version of its new Q3 compact SUV. According to inside sources quoted by Auto Motor und Sport magazine in its most recent issue, the brand with the four rings has even decided on the powertrain, which is none other than the 340HP 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five found under the hood of the TT RS and RS3 hot hatch.
Power of course would be transferred to all four wheels through Audi’s quattro system and a seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission.
These yet to be officially confirmed rumors have lead photoshop resident and Carscoop reader L il-k Amaru to use his talent on the creation of two renderings depicting the possible styling of the Q3 RS.
The artist’s proposal includes all the usual design cues of Audi’s RS models such as the prominent front bumper with a honeycomb grille, side skirts, five-spoke alloy wheels, aluminum trim accents and a rear apron with a diffuser.

Thanks go to L il-k Amaru from Virtuel-car!

Source carscoop

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Video: Mercedes-Benz Stars in Transformers 3 Premiere

The third installment of the popular Transformers movies, "Dark of the Moon", directed by Michael Bay and produced by none other than Steven Spielberg, has made its premiere in Berlin.
Of course, all the stars including Shia LaBeouf, Josh Duhamel, John Torturo, Patrick Dempsey and the gorgeous Victoria’s Secret model-turned-actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, were present. But since the movie is about cars, and even though the franchise features a lot of Chevrolet models, Mercedes-Benz was also present with the E-Class playing an Autobot (the good guys) and the SLS AMG appearing on screen as Huntington-Whiteley’s car.
Funny, we think it should be the other way around, since the SLS is the supercar, right? And Michael Bay was so impressed he just bought one.
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Porsche to Return to Le Mans in 2014 with Brand New LMP1 Racer

Porsche, the most successful marque ever in the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans has announced its return in 2014 to the world’s most famous endurance race. Porsche has won at Le Mans a record 16 times, and aims for the top spot with its works entry in the top LMP1 category.
Of course, Porsche had never really shut down its motorsport activities as far as endurance races are concerned. Apart from the numerous 911s, the RS Spyder that was run by the Porsche-backed Penske team in the US from 2006-2008 and to 2010 with several privateer teams, it has enjoyed success in the LMP2 category.
“With the RS Spyder we proved that our motorsport engineers in Weissach are at the forefront,” says Wolfgang Hatz, Board Member for Research and Development at Porsche AG. “We were the first to run a high-revving race engine with direct fuel injection, setting new standards in performance and efficiency. Recently, with the 911 GT3 R Hybrid, we adopted a completely new drive technology for racing purposes and achieved a considerable reduction in consumption.”
According to Porsches’s head of Motorsport, Hartmut Kristen, the company will begin to evaluate its options for the brand-new LMP1 racer. As he points out, “these obviously depend on the details of the 2014 regulations, which are interesting because in principle the integration of our hybrid technology is one option”.
Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood claimed the first overall victory for Porsche in 1970 with the legendary 917 short-tail. The 16th and, until now, last overall win was secured by Laurent Aiello, Stéphane Ortelli and Allan McNish in 1998 with the 911 GT1. In 2008 and 2009, the Porsche RS Spyder sports prototype won the title in the LMP2 category.
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VW Posts 35% Jump in U.S. Sales in June, Jetta Demand up 121%

The Volkswagen brand has reported U.S. sales of 28,444 units in June 2011 recording a 35.1 percent increase over the same month a year ago. The German firm’s year-to-date-sales are up by 22.3 percent compared to 2010 at 154,125 units.
The most impressive increase in sales comes from the new Jetta, which was introduced to the American market in October 2010. The compact sedan’s U.S. sales totaled 14,513 units in June (+120.9%) and 76,498 cars from the beginning of the year, an increase of 77.2 percent over the same period in 2010. The firm’s Touareg and Tiguan experienced 46.9 percent and 47.1 percent sales increases, respectively, while the hardtop-convertible Eos’ sales grew 17.7 percent over 2010.
On the other side of the spectrum, the Chrysler-sourced Routan saw its sales drop 30.7 percent in June and 23.8 percent from the beginning of 2011.
"We've been able achieve a volume in the first half of this year in what took us effectively seven months last year," said Jonathan Browning, President and CEO, Volkswagen of America, Inc. "With Volkswagen's broad range of fuel-efficient, high-quality vehicles, we expect the momentum to continue into the second-half of the year,” he added.
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Report: New Alfa Romeo-Derived / U.S. Made Dodge Compact Sedan to Debut at 2012 Detroit Show

A new U.S. market compact sedan to be developed by Fiat and built by Chrysler is set to make its debut appearance at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in the beginning of next year, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal.
The as-of-yet unnamed model will be badged as Dodge and powered by a Fiat-derived 1.4-liter turbocharged gasoline engine. It’ll also do 40 mpg combined, or at least it will if Fiat wants to net itself a further 5% of Chrysler from Mr. Monopoly Uncle Sam.
The Italian automaker wants to expand its 46% share in Chrysler & Friends by an additional 7.5% courtesy of the U.S. Treasury and Canadian government on top of the 5% it’s expected to get by pushing the 40 mpg envelope.
The new model will be built in Chrysler’s Belvidere plant in Illinois, which the brand is currently spending US$600 million retooling for the job. Production is expected to start later this year. Dealers, such as David Kelleher of David Dodge Chrysler Jeep of Glen Mills, PA are naturally very excited:
“We have never had a viable compact car. This will allow us to reach the entry level customer and it's a perfect fit for Dodge which has been faced with challenges.” [Like having to share a lot with the Chrysler Sebring, for one…]
The Caliber, the closest thing Dodge currently has to a Honda Civic / Ford Focus / Chevy Cruze competitor at present, does a paltry 24 mpg in automatic guise.
The new model will share the same basic floorplan as the Alfa Romeo Giulietta hatchback, which will also be used to underpin five new models over the next three years.
There’s no word yet on a name, but I’m willing to discount Aires, Neon and Stratus as possible contenders.

By Tristan Hankins

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VIDEO: Lexus LF-A Nurburgring Edition Laps the Nordschleife in 7:22.85

Carscoop reader Shinya Yamamoto from Japan tipped us off about this video showing the new Lexus LF-A Nurburgring Edition (or at least that’s what the Youtube poster claims we’re seeing here) lapping the famous Nordschleife circuit in 7 minutes and 22.85 seconds. The poster videotaped the run from a video screen set beside the LF-A Nurburgring Edition.
According to the person who shot the clip, Lexus raced the car just before this past weekend’s 24-hour Nurburgring endurance race kicked off.
We’re still waiting for an official announcement from Lexus, but if the time stands, the LF-A Nurburgring Edition, which comes equipped with a 10bhp more powerful V10 than the regular model rated at 562-horses, is just under 2 seconds faster than the 2012 Nissan GT-R (7:24.22) but more than 3 seconds slower than the 2012 Corvette ZR1 (7:19.63).
Both the Nissan ($89,950) and ZR1 ($110,330 for the 2011MY) cost only fraction of the LF-A Nurburgring Edition’s price ($375,000 + $70,000 for the Nurburgring package for a total of $445,000).
We should note that like Lexus and Nissan, GM also timed the 2012 Corvette Z06 and Z01 from a rolling and not a standing start as it did with the 2008MY versions.

Hat Tip to Shinya!

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Subaru in the Midst of Saudi Women Driving Uproar

Last month, a 32-year old woman named Manal al-Sharif was arrested in Saudi Arabia for committing the crimes of… driving and posting a video on Youtube urging other women to drive too.
This is strictly forbidden by the Wahhabi sect of Suni Islam which is Saudi Arabia’s religion, as women are not allowed to apply for a driver’s license or mix with men (e.g. in service or gas stations) or even leave the home without male company.
Even though al-Sharif was released 10 days later, her arrest resulted in a group of women named "Saudi women for Driving" to campaign in favor of lifting the ban on women’s driving in the Kingdom.
US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, has publicly supported the group who defied the royal family’s regime by driving in Saudi Arabian streets on June 17.
Now the group is putting pressure on Subaru and its parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries, to leave the country until the prohibition is lifted. The Japanese company was selected because it is considered progressive and has marketed its products to women. It is also quite possible that the group’s next targets will be Cadillac and Hyundai, the two brands of cars driven by al-Sharif.
Fuji Industries and Subaru spokesman, Kenta Matsumoto, commented that the company’s Saudi Arabia dealer’s “haven’t received information of any campaigns. We only have dealers, not factories, in the country and our annual sales are limited to 300-400 units”.

Source: Autonews [Sub. Req]

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Lexus Calls UK Buyers to Enjoy the Summer with Limited Edition IS 250C

While Britain may not be the ideal place to enjoy an open top model, Lexus is calling UK buyers to take a look at its new limited edition version of the IS 250C coupe-convertible. Exclusivity for the IS 250C Limited Edition comes in the form of a distinctive black and red semi-aniline leather interior along with a numbered badge fixed inside the glove-box.
The special edition model is based on the regular SE-L and as such comes fitted as standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, electric one-touch easy access to the rear seats, eight-way electrically adjustable front seats with built-in ventilation and heating plus climate control that automatically adjusts temperature settings when the roof is down.
Available for order now, the IS 250C Limited Edition is priced in the UK at £39,990 on the road.
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Top Gear Season 17 Episode 1 Starts with a Blast: Forget about the Hummer, Meet the Marauder [Video]

Yesterday we brought you news about the first episode of the seventh season of BBC’s Top Gear TV series which aired last night featuring the Paramount Group’s Marauder. The South African-built armored vehicle was driven by TG presenter Richard Hammond in its native country. However, “driven” is an understatement, since Hammond made the Marauder flatten cars, smash through walls and defy lion attacks. He also took a bright red one for a drive around Johannesburg, creating quite a fuss. But if you think that’s the end of it, you’re mistaken. In the final test, the Marauder and a Hummer suffered explosions simulating the roadside bombs the military faces in places such as Iraq or Afghanistan. The Hummer was destroyed, while the Marauder was barely scratched and Hammond drove off into the sunset...

10 things you didn’t know about the Marauder [From Paramount Press Release]:

1. Marauder is actually three vehicles in one. It can be produced as an infantry patrol vehicle, a command centre and even an ambulance!

2. With long range fuel tanks added it can travel an extra 500km – making it ideal for long range patrols.

3. Marauder can survive explosions of 14kg of TNT under its wheels and 7kg under its hull – making it one of the world’s toughest vehicles.

4. Whether sitting in the boiling heat of +55°C or the freezing temperatures of -32°C, occupants can stay cool or warm with the ultra modern climate control system.

5. Marauder can literally swim! It has a fording depth of half the vehicle – making it ideal for rugged and wet terrain.

6. It has special ‘run flat’ tyre inserts which means that the tyres can be perforated by 12.7mm bullet rounds and still keep rolling for at least another 50km!

7. Marauder weighs around 15 tons but can be loaded up to 18 tons when fully laden!

8. The vehicle can be fitted with an IED jammer – making it the enemy of terrorists worldwide.

9. Anti blast seats protect troops from roadside bombs and rocket attack – keeping them safe from the huge force of explosions, without just protecting the vehicle.

10. With a maximum speed of 120 Km/h the Marauder is no slow coach.

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Nissan Announces New Midterm Business Plan, will Introduce a New Vehicle Every Six Weeks for Six Years

Japanese carmaker Nissan Motor Co. revealed on Monday its new midterm business plan dubbed “Power 88”, with which it aims to boost both its global market share and profit margin to 8 percent within six years – hence the “88” reference in the name. Last year, Nissan, which is 44.3 percent owned by French partner Renault, had a 5.8 percent global market share. The new plan calls for the introduction of 52 new cars for fiscal years 2011 to 2016, or about one new vehicle every six weeks.
Japan’s second biggest automaker in terms of sales said it will also try to capture 10% of the premium segment or about 500,000 cars today with its Infiniti brand that will be available in more than 70 markets with a range of at least 10 vehicles.
"Nissan Power 88 is the roadmap for our company's profitable growth," said Nissan President and Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn. "We will accelerate our growth, bringing more innovation and excitement to our products and services as well as cleaner, more affordable cars for everyone around the world, in line with the energy and environmental challenges of the 21st century."
Nissan will also focus on the emerging markets of Brazil, Russia, India and China.
The highlights of Nissan’s “Power 88” plan are:

· Nissan's extended new product plan will deliver, on average, an all-new vehicle every six weeks for six years. The company's global portfolio will have 66 vehicles and will cover 92% of all markets and segments.

· The emphasis on sustainable mobility will continue, encompassing zero-emission vehicles and low-emission technologies that support PURE DRIVE. Cumulative electric vehicle sales for the Renault-Nissan Alliance will reach 1.5 million units.

· "Mobility for all" will expand with dedicated new cars and light commercial vehicles (LCVs) developed for entry-level segments and emerging markets.

· Nissan will introduce more than 90 new, advanced technologies, averaging 15 per year.

· In 2012, Nissan will have a production capacity of 1.2 million units in China. China has become - and will continue to be - Nissan's largest single global market. Nissan aims for a 10% share of the Chinese market. Nissan will also increase its presence in Brazil, Russia and India, as well as in the next wave of emerging markets.

· In Brazil, Nissan will build a new plant, with a capacity of 200,000 units as a first step.

· Nissan NV200's selection as New York City's "Taxi of Tomorrow" illustrates the company's momentum in the LCV field. By 2016, Nissan will be the world's leading light commercial vehicle manufacturer.

· The Infiniti premium brand will grow from its 2010 sales level of 150,000 vehicles to 10% of global market share among luxury brand segments, a level today that would represent 500,000 vehicles. Infiniti will be present in more than 70 markets with a product range of at least 10 vehicles.

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