Autoblog Government/Legal http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog Government/Legal http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/favicon-v5.png Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and Jeff RossThe podcast by the people who obsessively cover the auto industry. <![CDATA[CO2 credits: The ultimate rebate?]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/19/co2-credits-the-ultimate-rebate/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/19/co2-credits-the-ultimate-rebate/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/19/co2-credits-the-ultimate-rebate/#comments Filed under: , , ,

Time For Buyers To Have Some Skin In The EV Game

CO2 warning

Politicians know that $8- or $9-a-gallon gas like in Europe would end their careers.

The back-and-forth between those writing the fuel economy rules and auto manufacturers is designed to see how far the CO2 regulations can be pushed without inconveniencing the general public.

Rather than taxing fuel like they do in Europe to encourage buyers to opt for the most fuel-efficient vehicles, in America it's up to the manufacturers to develop a fleet that averages some magic number, in this case 54.5 mpg by 2025. That's because most politicians know that $8- or $9-a-gallon gas like in Europe would end their careers.
Matt DeLorenzo is the former editor-in-chief of Road & Track and has covered the auto industry for 35 years, including stints at Automotive News and AutoWeek. He has authored books including VW's New Beetle, Chrysler's Modern Concept Cars, and Corvette Dynasty.

Continue reading CO2 credits: The ultimate rebate?

CO2 credits: The ultimate rebate? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 19 May 2013 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> co2 creditselectric vehicleev creditsfeaturedmatt delorenzoopinionteslatesla model s Sun, 19 May 2013 15:20:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20564936/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20564936/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/19/co2-credits-the-ultimate-rebate/20564936/article-detail.xml 20564936 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/co2-warning_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/co2-warning.jpg <![CDATA[Of course, Dubai Police add Bugatti Veyron to fleet]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/18/of-course-dubai-police-add-bugatti-veyron-to-fleet/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/18/of-course-dubai-police-add-bugatti-veyron-to-fleet/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/18/of-course-dubai-police-add-bugatti-veyron-to-fleet/#comments Filed under: , , , , , ,

Dubai Police Bugatti Veyron

Well, now it's official: Nobody in Dubai is going to be able to outrun the police. You see, in addition to the Aston Martin One-77, Ferrari FF and Lamborghini Aventador that were already part of its stable of police cars, the constabulary in Dubai have most recently procured a Bugatti Veyron to add to the force. And, since the Veyron is the fastest production vehicle in the world, it'd take something truly special to evade the long arm of the law.

The image you see above was tweeted by Dubai's Chief of Police, and as you can see, it's painted up in the green and white hues we've come to expect from its ilk. We do have to wonder, though, if they drilled holes in the Bugatti's roof for the light bar or if it's held on by suction cups or something else less likely to damage the delicate carbon fiber bodywork...

Of course, Dubai Police add Bugatti Veyron to fleet originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 18 May 2013 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> bugattibugatti veyrondubai policedubai police bugatti veyronpolice Sat, 18 May 2013 13:05:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20574621/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20574621/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/18/of-course-dubai-police-add-bugatti-veyron-to-fleet/20574621/article-detail.xml 20574621 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/dubai-police-bugatti-veyron_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/dubai-police-bugatti-veyron.jpg <![CDATA[Lexus LFA owner gets town to remove speed bump]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/17/lexus-lfa-owner-gets-town-to-remove-speed-bump/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/17/lexus-lfa-owner-gets-town-to-remove-speed-bump/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/17/lexus-lfa-owner-gets-town-to-remove-speed-bump/#comments Filed under: , , , ,

2012 Lexus LFA supercar at sunset

What do you do if you have enough money to buy a Lexus LFA but can't get the car safely to your house? Get local government involved, of course. Rune Berge Vik, of Stavanger, Norway, did just that after he bought a Lexus LFA (the only LFA in the Nordic region according to tv2.no) last year only to find out that it could not clear a speed bump in his neighborhood.

To remedy the situation, Vik got in touch with his city, which had the speed bump removed. Talk about your tax dollars hard at work. On the other hand, it's commendable that the man actually uses his supercar as a daily driver, and besides, doesn't a street-legal car have the right to access said public streets?

Lexus LFA owner gets town to remove speed bump originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 May 2013 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2012 lexus lfalexuslexus lfalocal governmentspeed bumpspeed hump Fri, 17 May 2013 15:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20573785/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20573785/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/17/lexus-lfa-owner-gets-town-to-remove-speed-bump/20573785/article-detail.xml 20573785 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/01-2011-lexus-lfa-review-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/01-2011-lexus-lfa-review-opt.jpg <![CDATA[F1 boss Ecclestone staring down bribery charges]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/f1-boss-ecclestone-staring-down-bribery-charges/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/f1-boss-ecclestone-staring-down-bribery-charges/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/f1-boss-ecclestone-staring-down-bribery-charges/#comments Filed under: ,

Bernie Ecclestone F1 boss suited with hand up

Controversial Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone is facing bribery charges from German prosecutors. The long-rumored indictments stem from the 2006 sale of the racing series from Germany's Bayern LB bank to CVC Capital partners. The charge could result in Ecclestone facing jail time and losing his iron grip on the F1 series.

Ecclestone, 82, is said to be "100 percent" relaxed about the pending charges, despite the fact that Bayern's former chief risk officer, Gerhard Gribkowsky, is already incarcerated and serving an eight-and-a-half-year sentence for admitting to taking a bribe worth nearly $43 million. According to reports, German prosecutors are alleging that Ecclestone was responsible for that money. For his part, Ecclestone has repeatedly asserted his innocence, maintaining that he is a victim of blackmail.

If the case goes to trial, Germany's The Local says Ecclestone is not likely to appear in court until this fall, as much of the case's extensive documentation will need to be translated into English.

F1 boss Ecclestone staring down bribery charges originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 May 2013 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> bayern lbbernie ecclestonebriberycoercioncvc capital partnersf1formula one Thu, 16 May 2013 18:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20572559/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20572559/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/16/f1-boss-ecclestone-staring-down-bribery-charges/20572559/article-detail.xml 20572559 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/bernie-ecclestone-f1-boss-testify_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/bernie-ecclestone-f1-boss-testify.jpg <![CDATA[Ford sued over alleged 3.5-liter EcoBoost defects]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/ford-sued-over-alleged-3-5-liter-ecoboost-defects/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/ford-sued-over-alleged-3-5-liter-ecoboost-defects/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/ford-sued-over-alleged-3-5-liter-ecoboost-defects/#comments Filed under: ,

Ford Taurus SHO - Ecoboost engine closeup

Three Ford owners from Ohio have filed a lawsuit against the automaker over defects that they allege exist within the company's twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost engine. Automotive News reports that the lawsuit claims the engine "contained serious latent design, manufacturing, or assembly defects." Those defects, the suit claims, cause the vehicle to shake, misfire and lose power quickly.

Two of the plaintiffs, a married couple, own a 2010 Ford Taurus SHO, and allege they experienced a loss of power and stalling, while the third, an F-150 owner, claims he lost power while accelerating. In addition to the Taurus SHO and F-150, the 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost engine is also available in the Ford Flex, Explorer Sport and Lincoln MKT and MKS. Other three- and four-cylinder EcoBoost engines are not included in the suit. There have been no recalls associated with 3.5-liter V6 engine, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently not investigating the matter.

The plaintiffs, however, claim Ford has known about the problem, citing several technical service bulletins issued to dealers of the F-150 that suggest possible fixes. Ford had no comment for Automotive News, saying that it's yet to review the lawsuit, which was filed last Friday in Columbus, OH.

Ford sued over alleged 3.5-liter EcoBoost defects originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 May 2013 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 3.5-liter ecoboostecoboostengine defectfordford ecoboostford lawsuitlawsuitnhtsa Thu, 16 May 2013 16:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20572622/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20572622/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/16/ford-sued-over-alleged-3-5-liter-ecoboost-defects/20572622/article-detail.xml 20572622 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/ford-ecoboost-v6-sho-engine-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/ford-ecoboost-v6-sho-engine-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Toyota sudden acceleration class action may cover 22 million owners]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/toyota-sudden-acceleration-class-action-may-cover-22-million-own/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/toyota-sudden-acceleration-class-action-may-cover-22-million-own/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/toyota-sudden-acceleration-class-action-may-cover-22-million-own/#comments Filed under: , , ,

Distorted Toyota logo

A total of 22.6 million current and former Toyota owners have been sent notices that they may be eligible to receive compensation from the automaker for damages related to the unintended acceleration fiasco that has dominated headlines in 2009 and 2010. The total payout may be as high as $1.63 billion, according to The Detroit News.

Steve Berman, a lawyer for the owners, calls the potential deal "a landmark, if not a record, settlement in automobile defects class action litigation in the United States." Still, there's some debate about whether or not Toyota's proposed settlement is fair, as it includes $30 million for safety research and driver education programs - in other words, Toyota seems to be suggesting that drivers need more education on how to drive their correctly working and fully functional vehicles. For those keeping track, Toyota would also be paying lawyer fees of $200 million.

A US District Judge in California is scheduled to hold a so-called "fairness hearing" on June 14 that could decide the fate of this particular settlement. Further courtroom wrangling will be required to hash out any wrongful death suits levied against Toyota stemming from unintended acceleration claims, as those are not part of this class-action suit.

Toyota sudden acceleration class action may cover 22 million owners originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 May 2013 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> class actionsudden accelerationtoyotatoyota settlementunintended acceleration Thu, 16 May 2013 09:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20568838/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20568838/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/16/toyota-sudden-acceleration-class-action-may-cover-22-million-own/20568838/article-detail.xml 20568838 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/toyota-distortion_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/toyota-distortion.jpg <![CDATA[NTSB proposes lowering blood alcohol limit on drunk driving laws]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/ntsb-proposes-lowering-blood-alcohol-limit-on-drunk-driving-laws/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/ntsb-proposes-lowering-blood-alcohol-limit-on-drunk-driving-laws/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/ntsb-proposes-lowering-blood-alcohol-limit-on-drunk-driving-laws/#comments Filed under: ,



In an effort to reduce the number of alcohol-impaired driving crashes, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released a set of recommendations, 19 in total, calling for more stringent laws and enforcement. "Most Americans think that we've solved the problem of impaired driving, but in fact, it's still a national epidemic," NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman said. "On average, every hour one person is killed and 20 more are injured."

The most controversial of the recommendations has to do with the blood-alcohol level (BAC) that consitutes being legally drunk behind the wheel. As of today, all states consider the BAC threshold to be a limit of 0.08, but the NTSB is calling for it to be lowered to 0.05 (the agency points out that over 100 countries on six continents have BAC limits set at 0.05 or lower). The NTSB estimates that nearly 1,000 lives would be saved by the change.

In other recommendations, the NTSB has called for police to use passive alcohol sensors to help better detect alcohol vapor in the ambient environment, and it is suggesting giving authorities the power to immediately suspend or revoke driver's licenses at the time of DWI. It also maintains that states should employ measures to improve interlock compliance. To read the rest, check out the full press release below.

Continue reading NTSB proposes lowering blood alcohol limit on drunk driving laws

NTSB proposes lowering blood alcohol limit on drunk driving laws originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> bacblood alcohol contentblood alcohol leveldrink drivingdriving under the influencedrunk drivingduidwilegal duinational transportation safety boardntsb Thu, 16 May 2013 08:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20570641/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20570641/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/16/ntsb-proposes-lowering-blood-alcohol-limit-on-drunk-driving-laws/20570641/article-detail.xml 20570641 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/field-sobriety-test-getty-point_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/10/field-sobriety-test-getty-point.jpg <![CDATA[Florida DOT quietly changed yellow-light standards, municipalities issuing more tickets]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/florida-dot-quietly-changed-yellow-light-standards-municipaliti/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/florida-dot-quietly-changed-yellow-light-standards-municipaliti/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/florida-dot-quietly-changed-yellow-light-standards-municipaliti/#comments Filed under: , ,



Red light cameras don't appear to be going away, so it should come as no surprise that neither are the controversies around them. We're told again and again that they're about safety, not revenue collection, yet year after year, the studies and headlines compete to support and tear down those arguments. An investigative report by Florida's WTSP Channel 10 News gets the maelstrom whirling again, having found that various state municipalities have shorted yellow light times to below those recommended by the US Department of Transportation.

The retiming of yellow lights was precipitated by a change the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) made to its guidelines for yellow-light durations. Until 2011, the regulations "mandated yellow light calculations factor in either the posted speed limit or 85th percentile of drivers' actual speed - whichever was greater." That year, though, the phrase "whichever was greater" was cut, and certain cities began resetting the yellow lights to illuminate for the shorter interval - either trying to ensure more safety or more revenue. The FDOT says the new language was only meant to establish a minimum time for yellow lights, not to dictate their exact duration.

Various US government studies and reports recommend not using a road's speed limit when determining the length of the yellow light because it increases violations and crashes, but instead using the traffic's 85th percentile speed or the speed limit plus ten miles per hour.

More than one study has found that people want red light cameras, studies have also shown that while major accidents have been reduced at intersections with cameras, smaller fender-bender accidents have increased, and that's not an isolated finding. And with so much money in play - the Channel 10 news report says Florida collect about $100 million in red light camera fines last year and could get to $130 million this year - it's no wonder cities shorten yellow light times below the minimum guidelines, manipulate accident data, robo-sign tickets with the names of dead police officers, and redesign their license plates to make them easier for the cameras to read.

Check out the news segment in the video below and head over to the WTSP site for all of the numbers and specifics, and if you're in Florida, you'll need to pay even more attention to the lights in front and the traffic behind.

Continue reading Florida DOT quietly changed yellow-light standards, municipalities issuing more tickets

Florida DOT quietly changed yellow-light standards, municipalities issuing more tickets originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 May 2013 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> department of transportationfloridaflorida dotred light cameratraffic camerastraffic lightsvideowtspyellow light Wed, 15 May 2013 19:15:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20569316/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20569316/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/15/florida-dot-quietly-changed-yellow-light-standards-municipaliti/20569316/article-detail.xml 20569316 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/fdot-yellow-light-times_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/fdot-yellow-light-times.jpg <![CDATA[Porsche again staring down another $1.8B in hedge fund lawsuits]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/porsche-again-staring-down-another-1-8b-in-hedge-fund-lawsuits/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/porsche-again-staring-down-another-1-8b-in-hedge-fund-lawsuits/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/porsche-again-staring-down-another-1-8b-in-hedge-fund-lawsuits/#comments Filed under: , ,

Volkswagen and Porsche emblems overlayed

The sequence of events from 2007 that began with Porsche's secret attempt to take over Volkswagen, and instead lead to Porsche being taken over by VW, continues to instigate lawsuits against the Stuttgart sports car manufacturer. A group of hedge funds that suffered over $1 billion in losses sued the car company in New York. Porsche had publicly stated it wasn't trying to buy VW, the hedge funds in question were shorting VW stock, and when Porsche's actual intentions were revealed, the stock shot up and the hedge funds took a beating.

The case was thrown out over the issue of jurisdiction, then appealed, only to see another suit filed on top of that. After that, most of the hedge funds withdrew their claims in New York and Porsche offered a 90-day window to refile in Germany where it is already fighting a number of other suits over the same issue. The hedge funds accepted the offer, refiling in Stuttgart for $1.8 billion in damages. According to Bloomberg, Porsche hasn't commented on the refiling, but as the same plaintiffs are involved, it's safe to assume that the carmaker still feels the case is "unsubstantiated and without merit." It has fared alright so far even in German courts, with two lesser cases against it thrown out last year.

Porsche again staring down another $1.8B in hedge fund lawsuits originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 May 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> derivativesgermanyhedge fundslawsuitporscheporsche lawsuitporsche volkswagenporsche vwstock marketstuttgartvolkswagenvw Wed, 15 May 2013 11:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20569429/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20569429/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/15/porsche-again-staring-down-another-1-8b-in-hedge-fund-lawsuits/20569429/article-detail.xml 20569429 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/vw-porsche-crests_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/vw-porsche-crests.jpg <![CDATA[New Hampshire town suing "Robin Hood" group for filling strangers' parking meters [w/poll]]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/new-hampshire-town-suing-robin-hood-group-for-filling-stranger/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/new-hampshire-town-suing-robin-hood-group-for-filling-stranger/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/new-hampshire-town-suing-robin-hood-group-for-filling-stranger/#comments Filed under: ,



A lawsuit in New Hampshire, a state where they take their slogan - Live Free or Die - seriously, is setting the city of Keene against a group of citizens fighting "the violent monopoly" by putting money in the about-to-expire parking meters of strangers. The action is known as "Robin Hooding in Keene," and there are various ways in which practitioners do it. The specific activity that the city has a problem with is when the Robin Hooders follow the city's parking enforcement officers and, in the city's words, taunt, interfere, harass and intimidate them. Keene officials say the situation is causing its parking officials to think about quitting.

A spokesman for the Robin Hooders argues that videoing and talking to the enforcement officers isn't harassment. The city isn't suing to get them to stop, but it is suing to establish a 50-foot safety zone around the parking meter officers in order to prevent the interactions. There are six members of the group who are named in the suit.

There are videos of Robin Hooding on YouTube which show what kinds of forms it takes. Let us know if you think it helps or hinders the city's case in the poll below.

View Poll

New Hampshire town suing "Robin Hood" group for filling strangers' parking meters [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 May 2013 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> free keenekeenekeene new hampshirelawsuitmeter maidsnew hampshireparkingparking meterrobin hoodrobin hooding Wed, 15 May 2013 10:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20569304/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20569304/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/15/new-hampshire-town-suing-robin-hood-group-for-filling-stranger/20569304/article-detail.xml 20569304 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/expired-parking-meter_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/expired-parking-meter.jpg <![CDATA[Cars made in Brazil blamed for country's high death rate]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/cars-made-in-brazil-blamed-for-countrys-high-death-rate/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/cars-made-in-brazil-blamed-for-countrys-high-death-rate/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/cars-made-in-brazil-blamed-for-countrys-high-death-rate/#comments Filed under: , ,

Unsafe cars in Brazil

The Detroit Free Press reports the new generation of Brazil-built cars are to blame for the country's high death rate. Thanks to a booming middle class, Brazil is the fourth-largest vehicle market in the world, but four of the country's best-selling models have failed independent crash tests. Couple those machines with the country's notoriously dangerous roads and weather, and Brazil winds up with a traffic death rate nearly four times that of the US when weighted for the disparity in the size of both driving populations.

Automakers, meanwhile, say their products meet or exceed Brazil's safety laws - starting next year, manufacturers will be required to install front airbags and anti-lock brakes. Activists, meanwhile, say those changes aren't enough to make a meaningful impact on the country's death toll. Independent testing found that four of the country's top-selling cars from brands like General Motors, Volkswagen and Fiat received a lowly one-star crash rating.

Compounding the issue is the fact that manufacturers make more money on less safe, inexpensive Brazilian-made cars. The Detroit Free Press reports companies earn a 10-percent profit on vehicles built in Brazil compared to three percent from US-built models and an average of five percent from machines assembled elsewhere. Vehicles imported from other markets are more likely to have safety equipment that meets more stringent standards.

Cars made in Brazil blamed for country's high death rate originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 May 2013 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> brazilbrazil traffic deathssafetytraffic deaths Wed, 15 May 2013 08:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20567120/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20567120/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/15/cars-made-in-brazil-blamed-for-countrys-high-death-rate/20567120/article-detail.xml 20567120 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/brazilunsafecars_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/brazilunsafecars.jpg <![CDATA[Watch Brazilian police ram a drug plane with their car to prevent takeoff]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/watch-brazilian-police-ram-a-drug-plane-with-their-car-to-preven/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/watch-brazilian-police-ram-a-drug-plane-with-their-car-to-preven/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/watch-brazilian-police-ram-a-drug-plane-with-their-car-to-preven/#comments Filed under: , ,



After watching this video of Brazilian police ramming a suspected drug-smuggling plane with their car to prevent it from taking off, I've realized that Hollywood has once again lied to me. My last exposure to Brazilian law enforcement was courtesy of their portrayal in 2011's Fast Five, in which the country's police force was presented by Tinsel Town as easily corruptible and able to be defeated by a couple of Americans in Dodge Chargers towing a safe.

In reality, though, it appears not all Brazilian cops roll over that easily. The ones in this dramatic video did their own real-life stunt work when they decided to ram a suspected drug transport plane during takeoff. Appearing to take out the plane's tail section and then ram it from the side, the officers also braved some flying bullets, though it's unclear from the video who was doing the shooting. Huffington Post reports that five people were arrested and 230 kilograms of cocaine base paste were seized.

The Brazilian police aren't even newcomers to the plane-ramming business. An equally, if not more, dramatic video was captured in 2011 that showed Brazilian police using their car to shear off an entire wing of a plane while it was taking off. All of which makes me now believe that if Hollywood were more realistic, Fast Five would've been over in 20 minutes with Dom and Brian in handcuffs. Scroll down to watch this real-life car-vs-plane chase scene.

Continue reading Watch Brazilian police ram a drug plane with their car to prevent takeoff

Watch Brazilian police ram a drug plane with their car to prevent takeoff originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 May 2013 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> brazilbrazil policebrazilian policedrug planedrug tradedrug traffickingdrugsplane rammingvideo Mon, 13 May 2013 16:56:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20566792/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20566792/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/13/watch-brazilian-police-ram-a-drug-plane-with-their-car-to-preven/20566792/article-detail.xml 20566792 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/brazil-police-ram-plane-car_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/brazil-police-ram-plane-car.jpg <![CDATA[NHTSA opens investigation into Ford Super Duty trucks over steering woes]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/nhtsa-opens-investigation-into-ford-super-duty-trucks-over-steer/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/nhtsa-opens-investigation-into-ford-super-duty-trucks-over-steer/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/nhtsa-opens-investigation-into-ford-super-duty-trucks-over-steer/#comments Filed under: , , ,

2008 Ford F250 Super Duty - front three-quarter view, red

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched an investigation into certain 2008 Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty pickup trucks. The investigation covers some 340,000 trucks after the government agency received five complaints of steering box failures. Owners claim internal failures resulted in the complete loss of their vehicles' control. In one case, steering box failure is being blamed for an F-Series crashing into another vehicle at around 20 miles per hour, while another another driver said his truck left the road and impacted a guardrail at around 35 mph.

Ford says it is cooperating with NHTSA in the investigation. We'll keep tabs on the investigation and let you know if a recall results.

NHTSA opens investigation into Ford Super Duty trucks over steering woes originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 May 2013 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> f-seriesford f-250ford f-350ford f-350 super dutyford super dutyinvestigationnational highway traffic safety administrationnhtsasteering box Mon, 13 May 2013 11:27:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20566393/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20566393/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/13/nhtsa-opens-investigation-into-ford-super-duty-trucks-over-steer/20566393/article-detail.xml 20566393 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/2008-ford-super-duty-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/2008-ford-super-duty-628.jpg <![CDATA[ACLU sues LAPD and Sheriff's Department over license plate scanners]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/aclu-sues-lapd-and-sheriffs-department-over-license-plate-scann/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/aclu-sues-lapd-and-sheriffs-department-over-license-plate-scann/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/aclu-sues-lapd-and-sheriffs-department-over-license-plate-scann/#comments Filed under: ,

LAPD police cruisers and mobile command unit

Both the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department and the Los Angeles Police Department have become big fans of cameras that capture license plate numbers and check them against information in registration and criminal databases. The Sheriff's Department uses 47 fixed cameras and has 77 squad cars with the equipment, the LAPD has gone from having 12 cruisers with the cameras five years ago to 100 now - and the cameras snag images of more than a thousand plates a minute. The LA departments aren't alone, either, with 71 percent of police departments nationwide said to be using the technology, and New Hampshire the only state to ban it.

Authorities tout how the information helps find stolen cars and help solve investigations, but the American Civil Liberties Union has an issue with the police holding onto the plate images of innocent people. The LAPD is understood to retain the information for five years, the LASD keeps it "indefinitely." According to the Los Angeles Times, the ACLU of Southern California and the Electronic Frontier Foundation filed a Public Records Act request for one week of the data generated by the camera and was denied, with the law enforcement agencies arguing that the information constitutes "investigative material" and thus it doesn't need to be released. That led both organizations to sue, worried that storage of information gathered on innocent citizens is a violation of their privacy.

ACLU attorney Peter Bibring says he would like the information to be destroyed after two weeks. Before that happens, he'll need to convince a judge that long-term databases containing the real-time whereabouts are a threat to a citizen's privacy. It'll probably be tough to do: police can perform manual checks at will, people have essentially no right to privacy in public spaces, the technology is ubiquitous, with border crossings and even the IRS using it, federal grants helping departments purchase the cameras, and information now going beyond state authorities and being checked against national registration and criminal databases. The ACLU has openly questioned the cameras for years, but this isn't only about the 'surveillance state,' it's about the record-keeping state.

ACLU sues LAPD and Sheriff's Department over license plate scanners originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 May 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> acluamerican civil liberties unionautomatic license recognitioncameraelectronic frontier foundationla sheriffs departmentlapdlicense platelicense recognitionlos angeles police departmentlos angeles sherrifs departmentpolicesafetyscannersuesurveillance Mon, 13 May 2013 11:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20565939/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20565939/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/13/aclu-sues-lapd-and-sheriffs-department-over-license-plate-scann/20565939/article-detail.xml 20565939 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/lapd-police-cars-and-rv_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/lapd-police-cars-and-rv.jpg <![CDATA[More drivers than ever are dying on US roads]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/more-drivers-than-ever-are-dying-on-us-roads/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/more-drivers-than-ever-are-dying-on-us-roads/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/13/more-drivers-than-ever-are-dying-on-us-roads/#comments Filed under: ,

car crash

Our sister site, AOL Autos, reports more people are dying in car accidents in the US than ever before. Fatalities jumped by 5.3 percent last year to 34,080 deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The increase is due in part to the fact that Americans are also driving more than ever before, covering 0.3-percent more miles in 2012 than 2011. NHTSA says that may be due to the fact that modern vehicles offer better fuel efficiency than before, and thus allow drivers to cover greater distances for the same money.

Motorcycle fatalities accounted for 14.7 percent of all traffic deaths, with 5,000 riders dying last year alone. The Governors Highway Association says many of those deaths could have been prevented with proper helmet laws. Right now, 31 states don't require riders to wear helmets. Pedestrian deaths also increased by 4 percent to 4,280, and deaths attributed to distracted driving jumped by 1.92 percent to 3,331 people.

More drivers than ever are dying on US roads originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 May 2013 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> deathsnational highway traffic safety administrationnhtsatraffic deathstraffic fatalities Mon, 13 May 2013 07:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20563944/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20563944/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/13/more-drivers-than-ever-are-dying-on-us-roads/20563944/article-detail.xml 20563944 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/car-crash_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/car-crash.jpg <![CDATA[2005-2007 Corvette investigated for faulty headlamps]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/10/2005-2007-corvette-investigated-for-faulty-headlamps/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/10/2005-2007-corvette-investigated-for-faulty-headlamps/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/10/2005-2007-corvette-investigated-for-faulty-headlamps/#comments Filed under: ,

2007 Chevrolet Corvette

The Detroit News reports the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into 103,374 Chevrolet Corvette models built between 2005 and 2007. The administration is currently looking into a headlight issue after receiving 30 complaints from owners saying that the vehicle abruptly lost both low beams. Demonstrating its uncanny affinity for the obvious, NHTSA said, "The loss of illumination impairs the driver's ability to see the roadway." Such a condition could lead to a crash.

Some of the complaints state that the problem is intermittent, while others say the issue only began after driving over an object in the road. Still others say the low beams return after the vehicle has been parked for some time. Both high-beams and fog lights remain functional in every case, however.

2005-2007 Corvette investigated for faulty headlamps originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 May 2013 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2005 chevy corvette2006 chevy corvette2007 chevy corvettechevychevy corvettecorvette headlightsinvestigationnational highway traffic safety administrationnhtsa Fri, 10 May 2013 10:15:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20564840/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20564840/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/10/2005-2007-corvette-investigated-for-faulty-headlamps/20564840/article-detail.xml 20564840 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/2007-corvette-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/2007-corvette-628.jpg <![CDATA[Treasury to begin selling off more GM stock]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/09/treasury-to-begin-selling-off-more-gm-stock/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/09/treasury-to-begin-selling-off-more-gm-stock/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/09/treasury-to-begin-selling-off-more-gm-stock/#comments Filed under: , ,

GM Rencen with American flags

Reuters reports that earlier this week the US Treasury announced the sale of another tranche of General Motors stock. It didn't say how many of the 241.7 million shares it holds in the automaker it would sell, nor exactly when - the discretion apparently intended to keep hedge funds from profiting from the situation. The government's ownership is broken down into common and diluted shares, representing close to 18 percent of the company at the moment, down from the 60.8 percent it owned in 2009 after GM's bankruptcy. This follows a share sale in February, when Treasury sold 17.2 million shares for $489 million.

Although GM's share price is nowhere near the $70-per-share or so that Treasury would need to break even, the department has reiterated that the point of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) wasn't to make money but to save jobs. GM's share price has, however, almost edged back to its November 2012 IPO price of $33. At the time of writing, shares were trading for $32.10. Based on the timetable Treasury gave in December, it should be fully divested of its GM ownership within a year from now.

Treasury to begin selling off more GM stock originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 May 2013 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> bailoutfinancial crisisgeneral motorsgmgm bankruptcygm stocktarptreasurytroubled asset relief program Thu, 09 May 2013 09:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20561573/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20561573/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/09/treasury-to-begin-selling-off-more-gm-stock/20561573/article-detail.xml 20561573 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/gyi0061332043_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/gyi0061332043.jpg <![CDATA[VPG Autos ceases operations]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/08/vpg-autos-ceases-operations/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/08/vpg-autos-ceases-operations/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/08/vpg-autos-ceases-operations/#comments Filed under: , , ,



In the span of about a month, four start-up car-building companies in the US have encountered serious problems. Fisker laid off 75 percent of its employees, Coda filed for bankruptcy, Carbon Motors pulled out of its Indiana assembly plant and now VPG Autos has ceased its operations. VPG has not officially filed for bankruptcy, but it is no longer building its wheelchair-accessible MV-1 (pictured) at the AM General plant near South Bend, IN.

The MV-1 was a purpose-built vehicle designed to accommodate disabled drivers or passengers, but according to Business Insider, the company ran out of cash following the US Department of Energy freezing its assets. VPG took a $50 million loan from the DOE in 2011 but failed to keep its reserve funds at an amount required by the loan. Sadly, there was no shortage of orders for the MV-1, but VPG just didn't have the capital to get the vehicles built.

VPG Autos ceases operations originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 May 2013 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> am generalUS Department of Energyvpg autosvpg autos federal loanvpg mv-1 Wed, 08 May 2013 16:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20562407/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20562407/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/08/vpg-autos-ceases-operations/20562407/article-detail.xml 20562407 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/2011-vgp-autos-mv-1-qs_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/2011-vgp-autos-mv-1-qs.jpg <![CDATA[Why Italians are no longer buying supercars]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/08/why-italians-no-longer-buying-supercars/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/08/why-italians-no-longer-buying-supercars/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/08/why-italians-no-longer-buying-supercars/#comments Filed under: , , , , , , ,

Ferrari LaFerrari

Italy is the wound that continues to drain blood from the body financial of Italian supercar and sports car makers. The wound was opened by the country's various financial police who decided to get serious about superyacht-owning and supercar-driving tax cheats a few years ago, by noting their registrations and checking their incomes. When it was found that a rather high percentage of exotic toy owners had claimed a rather low annual income - certain business owners were found to be declaring less income than their employees - the owners began dumping their cars and prospective buyers declined to buy.

Car and Driver has a piece on how the initiative is hitting the home market the hardest. Lamborghini sold 1,302 cars worldwide in 2010, 1,602 cars in 2011 and 2,083 cars in 2012 - an excellent surge in just two years. In Italy, however, it's all about the ebb: in 2010, the year that Italian police began scouring harbors, Lamborghini sold 96 cars in Italy, the next year it sold 72, last year it sold just 60. The declines for Maserati and Ferrari are even more pronounced.

Head over to CD for the full story and the numbers. What might be most incredible isn't the cause and effect, but where the blame is being placed. A year ago the chairman of Italy's Federauto accused the government of "terrorizing potential clients," this year Luca di Montezemolo says what's happening has created "a hostile environment for ­luxury goods." Life at the top, it ain't easy.

Why Italians are no longer buying supercars originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 May 2013 10:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> ferrariguardia di finanzaitalian policeitalylamborghinimaseratisupercarstax evasiontaxes Wed, 08 May 2013 10:16:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20558982/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20558982/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/08/why-italians-no-longer-buying-supercars/20558982/article-detail.xml 20558982 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/ferrari-laferrari-geneva-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/ferrari-laferrari-geneva-628.jpg <![CDATA[Returning war vets at higher risk for vehicle crashes]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/07/returning-war-vets-at-higher-risk-for-vehicle-crashes/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/07/returning-war-vets-at-higher-risk-for-vehicle-crashes/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/07/returning-war-vets-at-higher-risk-for-vehicle-crashes/#comments Filed under: ,



David Brown of The Washington Post has published a piece on a little-known risk to returning veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars: motor vehicle crashes. According to the report, which sources both professional research and observations of service members, vets and their counselors, 75 percent of returning vets have a higher rate of fatal car crashes than the civilian population. Likewise, active duty troops are involved in more accidents after their deployments than before, and the likelihood of an accident goes up with each successive tour of duty. In fact, motor vehicle fatalities will soon rank right up there with suicide and interpersonal violence as a leading cause of non-combat deaths.

The reasons why our nation's service members are at such high risk for motor vehicle crashes include, of course, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a contributing factor, as well as drunken driving and seeking out thrills to replace the rush of actual combat in civilian life. The latter is likely why fatal motorcycle crashes in particular spike during wartime.

The final reason mentioned by Brown in his piece, however, is one we hadn't considered, which is that returning service members haven't unlearned the aggressive driving behaviors that kept them alive in a war zone. Racing through intersections, straddling lanes, swerving on bridges and even not wearing seat belts because they hinder a quick escape are all cited in the report as behavior learned in combat that becomes very dangerous when it happens on the home front.

According to Brown, this problem is only beginning to get attention from the military, and research is still hard to come by as recruiting willing test subjects is not easy. The data, however, that points to motor vehicle crashes as a rapidly growing risk for our active and retired service members is conclusive. Click here to read Brown's full report.

Returning war vets at higher risk for vehicle crashes originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 May 2013 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> active troopsdavid brownmilitarymotor vehicle crashesriskservice members Tue, 07 May 2013 08:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20559077/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20559077/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/07/returning-war-vets-at-higher-risk-for-vehicle-crashes/20559077/article-detail.xml 20559077 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/156051319-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/156051319-opt.jpg -1 2