Autoblog Russia http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog Russia 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[Vettel and Coulthard drive Russia's very unfinished Sochi Circuit]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/vettel-and-coulthard-drive-russias-very-unfinished-sochi-circui/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/vettel-and-coulthard-drive-russias-very-unfinished-sochi-circui/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/16/vettel-and-coulthard-drive-russias-very-unfinished-sochi-circui/#comments Filed under: , , , , ,

Coulthard and Vettel drive Infiniti M sedans on the site of Russia's future grand prix circuit

The next Winter Olympics will happen in Sochi, Russia from February 7-23, 2014. Sometime after that, barring any delays, a portion of the Sochi Olympic Park will be turned into the Sochi Olympic Park Circuit, a 3.65-mile track for the first Russian Grand Prix in 100 years (the last of two Formula One grands prix were held in St. Petersburg).

As we've come to expect from the Infiniti Red Bull team, it recently sent Sebastian Vettel and brand ambassador David Coulthard to the unfinished venue to run the route in Infiniti M sedans and offer some impressions. With average cornering speeds above 62 miles an hour, Coulthard called it a fast street circuit in the Monaco vein. You can watch them try it out - yes, that's Vettel gone airborne above - and avoid a "White Van Man" in the video below.

Continue reading Vettel and Coulthard drive Russia's very unfinished Sochi Circuit

Vettel and Coulthard drive Russia's very unfinished Sochi Circuit originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 May 2013 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> david coulthardf1formula 1formula oneinfinitiinfiniti mrussian grand prixsebastian vettelsochisochi olympic park circuitvettelvideo Thu, 16 May 2013 08:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20569418/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20569418/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/16/vettel-and-coulthard-drive-russias-very-unfinished-sochi-circui/20569418/article-detail.xml 20569418 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/vettel-coulthard-infiniti-sochi_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/vettel-coulthard-infiniti-sochi.jpg <![CDATA[Pedestrian fakes hilariously bad hit, foiled by Russian dash cam]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/pedestrian-fakes-hilariously-bad-hit-foiled-by-russian-dash-cam/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/pedestrian-fakes-hilariously-bad-hit-foiled-by-russian-dash-cam/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/15/pedestrian-fakes-hilariously-bad-hit-foiled-by-russian-dash-cam/#comments Filed under: , , ,



After the Good-Samaritan-fest that was the last Russian dash cam video, it's back to our regularly scheduled program of scamming and madness. This time, it's a woman who attempts to pretend she's been hit by a car and rendered unconscious, the same tired con-job that happens to be one of the primary reasons that Russians probably perform more surveillance on themselves than the state does.

It's a remarkably bad job of method acting on the woman's part (is she drunk?), but we'll give her credit for persistence. The worst acting job you'll see all day is on video just below.

Continue reading Pedestrian fakes hilariously bad hit, foiled by Russian dash cam

Pedestrian fakes hilariously bad hit, foiled by Russian dash cam originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 May 2013 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> dash camdashcamfraudpedestrianpedestrian failrussiarussian dash camscamvideo Wed, 15 May 2013 19:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20569268/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20569268/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/15/pedestrian-fakes-hilariously-bad-hit-foiled-by-russian-dash-cam/20569268/article-detail.xml 20569268 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/russian-dashcam-scam_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/russian-dashcam-scam.jpg <![CDATA[Good things get captured by Russian dash cams too]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/06/good-things-get-captured-by-russian-dash-cams-too/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/06/good-things-get-captured-by-russian-dash-cams-too/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/06/good-things-get-captured-by-russian-dash-cams-too/#comments Filed under: , ,



The camera has no favorites, takes no sides - it captures whatever's in front of it, good or ill. We're used to seeing the ill side of Russian streets through the lenses of ubiquitous dash cams, but there's plenty of good to go with it if a video from YouTube user ArkadiYM93 is any indication.

You've probably never seen so many old ladies and cats and peacocks helped across the street, as you do in this five-minute clip. You probably also haven't seen a man lift a car to get it unstuck. You can start the feel-good part of your day by watching the video below.

Continue reading Good things get captured by Russian dash cams too

Good things get captured by Russian dash cams too originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 May 2013 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> dash camrussiarussian dash camvideoyoutube Mon, 06 May 2013 12:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20558952/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20558952/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/06/good-things-get-captured-by-russian-dash-cams-too/20558952/article-detail.xml 20558952 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/russian-dashcam-kindness_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/russian-dashcam-kindness.jpg <![CDATA[1966 Volga GAZ-21 pops into Jay Leno's Garage]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/02/1966-volga-gaz-21-pops-into-jay-lenos-garage/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/02/1966-volga-gaz-21-pops-into-jay-lenos-garage/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/05/02/1966-volga-gaz-21-pops-into-jay-lenos-garage/#comments Filed under: , , , , ,

Jay Leno in Russian Volga - video screencap

One of the many reasons we love Jay Leno's Garage is the depth of the comedian's collection and his appreciation for the unappreciated. Most men of his financial and social standing with even a passing interest in automobiles would occupy their driveways with six- and seven-figure high performance and luxury cars - they wouldn't even know what something like this 1966 Volga GAZ-21 is, let alone offer it a spot in their garage mahal.

Yet here is Leno, pouring over this ex-KGB staff car in detail and trying on his best labored Russian accent, genuinely fascinated by this small sedan. With a three-on-the-tree, primitive leaf-spring suspension and 95 horsepower from its 2.5-liter four-cylinder, this unrestored sedan - still riding on made-in-USSR tires - doesn't sound terribly exciting on paper, but Jay does a good job of outlining its features and putting it into historical context. He even tells a brief-but-amusing yarn about driving the car through Russian immigrant neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area. Learn more about this Cold War curiosity by scrolling below to watch the video.

Continue reading 1966 Volga GAZ-21 pops into Jay Leno's Garage

1966 Volga GAZ-21 pops into Jay Leno's Garage originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 May 2013 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 1966 volga gaz-21jay lenojay lenos garagekgblenovideovolgavolga gaz-21 Thu, 02 May 2013 16:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20556083/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20556083/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/05/02/1966-volga-gaz-21-pops-into-jay-lenos-garage/20556083/article-detail.xml 20556083 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/jay-leno-in-1966-volga_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/05/jay-leno-in-1966-volga.jpg <![CDATA[Angry Russian motorcyclist has an axe to grind with Nissan Juke]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/23/angry-russian-motorcyclist-has-an-axe-to-grind-with-nissan-juke/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/23/angry-russian-motorcyclist-has-an-axe-to-grind-with-nissan-juke/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/23/angry-russian-motorcyclist-has-an-axe-to-grind-with-nissan-juke/#comments Filed under: , , , , , ,

Russian motorcyclist wields angle grinder

Let's get this out of the way right off the bat: We don't know if the video you're about to watch really took place in the wild or if it were staged. That said, this appears to be one of the most alarming bits of road rage we've ever seen captured on video.

Let's set the scene. A motorcyclist is riding along with a good bit of distance between him and the black Nissan Juke in front of him before accelerating to catch up. The Juke driver moves to the left in order to avoid an obstacle in the road, cutting off the motorcyclist in the process, but everyone is fine. No harm, no foul? Hardly.

The motorcyclist falls way back, apparently biding his time and getting ready. Ready for what, you ask? Keep watching - the altercation concludes with an angle grinder, a frightened Juke driver and the loss of one minor appendage that once belonged to said Juke. Finally, a sticker that says 'NTV' is placed on the car's window, a fellow motorist appears to come to the driver's aid and the motorcyclist makes a quick getaway. Craziness.

Scroll down below to see it all unfold on video.

Continue reading Angry Russian motorcyclist has an axe to grind with Nissan Juke

Angry Russian motorcyclist has an axe to grind with Nissan Juke originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Apr 2013 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> grindermotorcyclistnissannissan jukeroad ragerussiarussian camvideo Tue, 23 Apr 2013 19:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20547856/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20547856/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/23/angry-russian-motorcyclist-has-an-axe-to-grind-with-nissan-juke/20547856/article-detail.xml 20547856 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/russian-motorcyclist-grinder_thumbnail.png http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/russian-motorcyclist-grinder.png <![CDATA[Ford to build Explorer in Russia to meet demand [w/video]]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/12/ford-to-build-explorer-in-russia-to-meet-demand-w-video/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/12/ford-to-build-explorer-in-russia-to-meet-demand-w-video/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/12/ford-to-build-explorer-in-russia-to-meet-demand-w-video/#comments Filed under: , , ,



The current Ford Explorer is sold in more than 64 countries, and this three-row vehicle continues to grow in popularity worldwide. To keep up with demand, Ford began producing the Explorer at Ford Sollers Elabuga Assembly Plant in Tatarstan, Russia, a joint venture facility. This partnership will build Russian-market Explorers only, and production of export vehicles not destined for Russian buyers will continue to be built at Ford's assembly plant in Chicago.

Before this plant went online, Ford would ship Explorers to Russia (and other regions around the world) as partially assembled knock-down units where final assembly would eventually take place. While there is no indication as to how many Explorers Ford Sollers will build for Russia, Ford did add that exports of the SUV were up 65 percent last year (from 2011) accounting for more than 24,000 units.

Scroll down for a press release about the Russian Explorer as well as a video (bad music and all) showing the SUV being produced in Tatarstan.

Continue reading Ford to build Explorer in Russia to meet demand [w/video]

Ford to build Explorer in Russia to meet demand [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> fordford explorerford russiarussia Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:26:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20537311/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20537311/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/12/ford-to-build-explorer-in-russia-to-meet-demand-w-video/20537311/article-detail.xml 20537311 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/ford-explorer-russia_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/ford-explorer-russia.jpg <![CDATA[Nissan GT-R goes 183 mph on ice in Russia]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/06/nissan-gt-r-goes-183-mph-on-ice-in-russia/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/06/nissan-gt-r-goes-183-mph-on-ice-in-russia/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/04/06/nissan-gt-r-goes-183-mph-on-ice-in-russia/#comments Filed under: , , , , ,



When a pair of Russian pilots wanted to set a local ice-speed record, they chose a stock Nissan GT-R for the task. Roman Rusinov, a Russian race car driver, and Andrey Leontjev, a Russian auto journalist, took Godzilla to Lake Baikal and ran it up to 294.8 kilometers per hour (182.8 miles per hour) across frozen stuff estimated to be 1.4 meters thick.

While the worldwide record of 205.48 mph was set by Juha Kankkunen in a Bentley Supersports Convertible, the mark achieved by Rusinov and Leontjev establishes a new Russian record. Well done, boys. You can watch it all go down in the video below.

Continue reading Nissan GT-R goes 183 mph on ice in Russia

Nissan GT-R goes 183 mph on ice in Russia originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 06 Apr 2013 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> ice speed recordlake baikalnissannissan gt-rrecordrussiavideovideosyoutube Sat, 06 Apr 2013 19:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20532197/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20532197/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/04/06/nissan-gt-r-goes-183-mph-on-ice-in-russia/20532197/article-detail.xml 20532197 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/nissan-gt-r-ice-record_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/04/nissan-gt-r-ice-record.jpg <![CDATA[Wealthy Russians hiring ambulances to cut through Moscow traffic]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/31/wealthy-russians-hiring-ambulances-to-cut-through-moscow-traffic/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/31/wealthy-russians-hiring-ambulances-to-cut-through-moscow-traffic/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/31/wealthy-russians-hiring-ambulances-to-cut-through-moscow-traffic/#comments Filed under: , ,

Ambulance in Moscow

We're not sure how widespread the practice is, but the option is apparently out there: Russian police have discovered companies on the Internet offering rides in "ambulance-taxis" through notoriously bad Moscow traffic. For roughly 6,000 rubles per hour - about $193 US, which doesn't sound like much for a wealthy Russian - the 'customer' will get to cut through gridlock in an ambulance with flashing lights and the proper paint scheme outside but a refitted, leather-lined interior.

Police say they've already stopped one ambulance with a "strange" driver that was found to have a bunch of people in civilian clothing in the back. The National Post reports that police have been told to keep an eye on the emergency-looking vehicles and to make sure they're actually being used for emergencies, which would appear to mean they're going to be tailing and perhaps stopping ambulances that are actually in the middle of emergency services. And that can't be good for anyone.

Wealthy Russians hiring ambulances to cut through Moscow traffic originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 31 Mar 2013 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> ambulancepolicerichrussiarussianwealthy Sun, 31 Mar 2013 17:03:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20523761/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20523761/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/31/wealthy-russians-hiring-ambulances-to-cut-through-moscow-traffic/20523761/article-detail.xml 20523761 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/russian-ambulance_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/russian-ambulance.jpg <![CDATA[Dartz promises own 6x6 G-Class with golden shishas and a dining room]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/25/dartz-6x6-g-class-with-golden-shishas-dining/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/25/dartz-6x6-g-class-with-golden-shishas-dining/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/25/dartz-6x6-g-class-with-golden-shishas-dining/#comments Filed under: , , , , , , , ,



So you didn't really think Dartz Motorz was going to let the limited-production, 544-horsepower Mercedes 6x6 G63 AMG go without a challenge, did you? Picking up the gauntlet as only Dartz can, the Russian dream-makers have come up with the Sahara G-eopard, supposedly a special request from a buyer to make one of the 'standard' six-wheelers "more opulent and insane."

That means the vehicle from the factory gets extended by about a foot (30 centimeters), coach doors in the rear, a "yacht floor" and air conditioning that runs on its own power source, Asanti 24-inch Gold Bullion wheels and a water dispenser with Russian diamonds, which the owner will need to fill the golden shishas (hookahs) in the portable smoking room. That's right, you heard the man: a portable smoking room. Where the occupants will retire when they're finished in the portable dining room. Of course.

Yes, it will even have leopard spotting painted onto its nano-coating, and so much more. You can check out the press release below from the source. Try not to be jealous.

Continue reading Dartz promises own 6x6 G-Class with golden shishas and a dining room

Dartz promises own 6x6 G-Class with golden shishas and a dining room originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 2013 mercedes-benz g63 amg6x6amgdartzdartz sahara g-eopardg-classg-wageng-wagong63g63 amgg63 amg 6x6gelandewagenmercedesmercedes g-classmercedes-benzphotossahara g-eopardvideo Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20516781/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20516781/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/25/dartz-6x6-g-class-with-golden-shishas-dining/20516781/article-detail.xml 20516781 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/dartzg-eopardg-class_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/dartzg-eopardg-class.jpg <![CDATA[Russian bus driver takes no mercy when punishing those who cut him off]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/11/russian-bus-driver-takes-no-mercy-when-punishing-those-who-cut-h/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/11/russian-bus-driver-takes-no-mercy-when-punishing-those-who-cut-h/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/11/russian-bus-driver-takes-no-mercy-when-punishing-those-who-cut-h/#comments Filed under: , , ,

Punisher Bus Video

Alexi Volkov, a Russian bus driver known as "The Punisher," doesn't tolerate anyone who cuts him off while he's on the job. Rather than attempting to take evasive maneuvers, Volkov simply lets his bus roll into the offending party's vehicle. He boasts that he's been involved in over 100 accidents and posts dash-cam videos of the collisions to YouTube. Somewhat miraculously, his employer doesn't seem concerned with his driving record, and Volkov says so long as the accidents aren't his fault and the damage minor, no one gets upset.

What about the passengers on the bus? The driver says no one has ever been injured in the bumps, so they have nothing to complain about. Meanwhile, Volkov says conditions are gradually improving thanks to his "educational work." Check out his highlight reel in the video below, and then let us know how you feel about Volkov's tactics in the Comments - Is he a menace or does he deserve a medal?

Oh, and one more thing: Please remember to be courteous to your fellow drivers.

Continue reading Russian bus driver takes no mercy when punishing those who cut him off

Russian bus driver takes no mercy when punishing those who cut him off originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> Alexi Volkovbusbus driverdash camrussiarussian bus driverrussianbusdriverthe punisherthe punisher bus driver Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20497028/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20497028/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/11/russian-bus-driver-takes-no-mercy-when-punishing-those-who-cut-h/20497028/article-detail.xml 20497028 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/punisher-bus-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/03/punisher-bus-628.jpg <![CDATA[8-year-old girl drives Audi 60 mph on icy roads, investigation ensues]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/01/8-year-old-girl-drives-audi-60-mph-on-icy-roads-investigation-e/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/01/8-year-old-girl-drives-audi-60-mph-on-icy-roads-investigation-e/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/01/8-year-old-girl-drives-audi-60-mph-on-icy-roads-investigation-e/#comments Filed under: , , , ,

8-year-old Russian girl drives Audi - video screencap

While it might be the world's safest practice, many of us got our first taste of driving as kids sitting on our mom or dad's laps while they let us steer. But that was usually done in a safe place (large parking lots or open fields) at very slow speeds. The safety aspect is what has two Russian parents in trouble after they filmed their 8-year-old driving an Audi at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour with slick road conditions.

In the video below, the girl - using a plastic container as a booster seat and not wearing a seatbelt - drives along the snowy road with the music blaring and her mother videoing it all from the back seat, a jaunt that reportedly resulted in parents Dmitry and Lena Mikulchik being investigated by St. Petersburg police. Hey, at least they weren't using their daughter as a designated driver, right?

Continue reading 8-year-old girl drives Audi 60 mph on icy roads, investigation ensues

8-year-old girl drives Audi 60 mph on icy roads, investigation ensues originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Mar 2013 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> bad parentingfailkids drivingmikulchikparenting failrussian 8 year old driverrussian driversrussian8yearolddriverst. petersburgunderage drivingvideo Fri, 01 Mar 2013 14:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20483476/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20483476/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/03/01/8-year-old-girl-drives-audi-60-mph-on-icy-roads-investigation-e/20483476/article-detail.xml 20483476 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/russian-audi-girl_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/russian-audi-girl.jpg <![CDATA[Russia's Putin "unhappy" with limo, Marussia and GAZ working on alternatives]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/27/russias-putin-unhappy-with-limo-marussia-and-gaz-working-on/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/27/russias-putin-unhappy-with-limo-marussia-and-gaz-working-on/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/27/russias-putin-unhappy-with-limo-marussia-and-gaz-working-on/#comments Filed under: , , ,



A few years ago Russian president Dmitri Medvedev decided he wanted officials to be chauffeured in Russian limousines, not the German executive sedans everyone had become accustomed to (such as the Mercedes-Benz pictured above). Naturally, that meant turning to Russia's own ZiL to create a litter worthy of a plutocrat and glorious Russian history. The plan had two big problems, the first being that ZiL stopped making limos in 1991 and was only producing trucks and armored military vehicles.

But that didn't stop the party. The orders to ZiL were to create something powered by a V8 that was able to carry three people and reach 130 miles per hour. It must also represent "the best traditions of Soviet limousine building." Zil got to work, spending years and who knows how many rubles to create the armored sedan it unveiled last Fall: the ZiL-4112P, powered by a 7.7-liter V8 that reportedly has more than 400 horsepower. When comparing the 4112P to Obama's presidential conveyance, ZiL's director of limousine production said, "If you look at what Obama drives around in its a scary submarine, no kind of aesthetic, it's awful to look at."

No matter that, the car has one more big problem: President Putin is apparently unhappy with it. The president hasn't publicly disclosed his issues with the car, but the Moscow Times said that Putin "was not pleased" by the looks of the 4112P and noted that the car "needed adjustments." ZiL's response to the report was to say that the president wasn't actually given the 4112P - which, if true, would mean they gave him a presidential limo they haven't revealed to the public instead of the one they threw a giant party for and used to demonstrate the comparative ugliness of its American counterpart.

The mess has left an opening for GAZ and Marussia, with both companies working on alternatives to whatever is on offer from ZiL. GAZ is building something based on the Audi A8 that it says will be ready by 2014, Marussia's "completely original model" will arrive in 2015.

Russia's Putin "unhappy" with limo, Marussia and GAZ working on alternatives originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Feb 2013 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> 4112-plimousineputinrussiavladimir putinzilzil-4112p Wed, 27 Feb 2013 18:02:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20475851/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20475851/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/27/russias-putin-unhappy-with-limo-marussia-and-gaz-working-on/20475851/article-detail.xml 20475851 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/vladimir-putin-limo-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/vladimir-putin-limo-628.jpg <![CDATA[Jon Stewart investigates the Russian dashcam phenomenon]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/24/jon-stewart-investigates-the-russian-dashcam-phenomenon/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/24/jon-stewart-investigates-the-russian-dashcam-phenomenon/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/24/jon-stewart-investigates-the-russian-dashcam-phenomenon/#comments Filed under: , , , ,



The streaking meteor event in Siberia last week has led Jon Stewart to spare a few minutes on The Daily Show to examine footage of the explosion 20 miles high and said to be equal to 300 kilotons of TNT.

But his real interest is asking why so many Russians were able to get the footage in the first place, i.e., why are there so many dashcams? Coincidentally, Wired asked the same question just a few days ago. Using plenty of examples to illustrate his point - akin to this, and this, and this, that we have become oh so used to - Stewart surmises that Russian roads are "A live-action Grand Theft Auto" and that "Russians in their daily lives see so much amazing [expletive] that they have become unfazeable."

You can watch his amusing take on our comrades across the Pacific in the video below.

Continue reading Jon Stewart investigates the Russian dashcam phenomenon

Jon Stewart investigates the Russian dashcam phenomenon originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 24 Feb 2013 12:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> daily showdash camdash-camdashcamjohn stewartjon stewartrussiathe daily showvideovideos Sun, 24 Feb 2013 12:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20474816/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20474816/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/24/jon-stewart-investigates-the-russian-dashcam-phenomenon/20474816/article-detail.xml 20474816 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/johnstewartdashcam_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/johnstewartdashcam.jpg <![CDATA[Ultralight makes a runway-free gas and go]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/20/ultralight-makes-a-runway-free-gas-and-go/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/20/ultralight-makes-a-runway-free-gas-and-go/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/20/ultralight-makes-a-runway-free-gas-and-go/#comments Filed under: , ,

Ultralight at a fuel station

We will never stop being bitter about the lack of flying cars in our personal lives. It's not that we trust the drivers on the road with us to have yet another axis of travel to concern themselves with, but rather that we've been promised personal flying transportation our entire lives.

One ultralight pilot seems to have taken matters into his own hands, by stopping at a standard fuel station to top off his tanks. After he's finished at the pumps, he simply fires up his engine, taxis to the highway and takes off into the wild blue yonder.

Is the move safe? Probably not, but the path to excellence is often littered with danger. You can watch the whole show in the video below for yourself. As for us, we're going to start shopping for a personal aircraft of our very own.

Continue reading Ultralight makes a runway-free gas and go

Ultralight makes a runway-free gas and go originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Feb 2013 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> flying cargas stationultralightvideo Wed, 20 Feb 2013 19:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20467572/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20467572/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/20/ultralight-makes-a-runway-free-gas-and-go/20467572/article-detail.xml 20467572 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/ultralight-at-a-fuel-station-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/ultralight-at-a-fuel-station-628.jpg <![CDATA[Russians create Toyota Land Cruiser ice sculpture with full interior]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/24/russians-create-toyota-land-cruiser-ice-sculpture-with-full-inte/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/24/russians-create-toyota-land-cruiser-ice-sculpture-with-full-inte/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/24/russians-create-toyota-land-cruiser-ice-sculpture-with-full-inte/#comments Filed under: , , , ,



The Toyota Land Cruiser is a pretty hot model around the world. But it took the Russians to make it cool. We have few hard, cold facts and only small slivers of information about these photos, but it seems the icy Toyota was part of the International Snow & Ice Festival in Perm, Russia.

Artists took a huge chunk of ice and shaved it down to the temporary art installation you see here. The sub-zero SUV comes complete with a full interior accessed by the (permanently frozen open) driver's side door. The steering wheel and seats look to be upholstered in, well, dirt. With the back seats removed, the frigid four-door is a pretty slick ride in which to chill out.

Just a thought, but wouldn't a Toyota Tundra have been more appropriate? See the gallery for more photos.

Russians create Toyota Land Cruiser ice sculpture with full interior originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> ice and snow festivalice carvingice sculptureland cruiserpermrussiatoyota Thu, 24 Jan 2013 09:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20435237/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20435237/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/24/russians-create-toyota-land-cruiser-ice-sculpture-with-full-inte/20435237/article-detail.xml 20435237 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/ice-land-cruiser-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/ice-land-cruiser-628.jpg <![CDATA[Dacia brand has become "cash cow" for parent Renault]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/04/dacia-brand-has-become-cash-cow-for-parent-renault/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/04/dacia-brand-has-become-cash-cow-for-parent-renault/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/04/dacia-brand-has-become-cash-cow-for-parent-renault/#comments Filed under: , , , , ,

Dacia emblem

No one, not even former Renault CEO Louis Schweitzer whose idea it was to buy Dacia in 1999, had any idea the low-cost Eastern European sub-brand would succeed this well. The Romanian automaker with three wheels in the ground at the time of its takeover was purchased the same year that Renault took its stake in Nissan, and no one had much to say about that smaller deal. Fast forward 13 years, the line that began with the Logan in 2004 is now five model lines on sale in 36 countries, it's year-on-year sales have never decreased and the vehicles built on its M0 entry-level platform sold nearly a million units in 2012. This isn't just an emerging-market story, either, with Dacia branded offerings making up 17 percent of Renault volume in Western Europe.

Its rampaging sales and the synergies between the Renault and Dacia lines have turned the brand into a "cash cow" in the words of Renault's COO. Its vehicles share a huge number of parts, many of which are still carryover nine years into the brand's life, and parts of the recently introduced second-generation Logan are evolved from the 1990 Renault Clio. In fact, due to amortization and decreased prices for parts because of the massive sales, the new Logan is less expensive to produce than the first generation, so it was given new equipment along with the refresh in order to maintain its price.

The news is even better in other regions, where the Dacia can command more money on its own or can be sold under the Renault or Nissan brands. The Duster in Western Europe that starts at 12,000 euros starts at 19,000 euros in Brazil. That's how Dacia, according to a Morgan Stanley analyst, returns a worldwide nine-percent operating margin as opposed to Renault's 0.4-percent. What lies ahead is more models and variants, as well as a modular strategy for the M0 platform to further reduce costs, and, one supposes, even more money from that Romanian cow.

Dacia brand has become "cash cow" for parent Renault originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Jan 2013 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> daciarenault Fri, 04 Jan 2013 09:15:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20415650/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20415650/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/04/dacia-brand-has-become-cash-cow-for-parent-renault/20415650/article-detail.xml 20415650 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/dacia-logo_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/dacia-logo.jpg <![CDATA[New Datsun models to be based on Lada platform]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/02/new-datsun-models-to-be-based-on-lada-platform/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/02/new-datsun-models-to-be-based-on-lada-platform/ http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/02/new-datsun-models-to-be-based-on-lada-platform/#comments Filed under: , ,

Russian Lada

Although we haven't heard much official news about the return of the Datsun brand since Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn made the announcement back in March, we now have a little more information about Nissan's new budget brand. Automotive News Europe is reporting that the new breed of Datsun products will go on sale by the end of 2013 and will be based on cars from the Russian automaker, Lada, which is currently part of the Nissan-Renault family.

With a goal of creating low-cost cars for emerging markets like Russia, India and Indonesia, the unknown Datsun models will reportedly be produced in Togliatti, Russia, alongside Lada cars as well as the Nissan Almera (the Russian version of the Nissan Versa sedan). Since these cars will be focused mainly on price, it's more likely that they will be basic vehicles rather than more stylish products like the Lada Xray Concept. Either way, the report says that Datsuns will look different than its Lada counterparts despite using the same underpinnings.

Initially, Datsun will launch with just two cars with a third model planned for 2015, and as far as pricing goes, the report says that the brand will be targeting a starting price of just 2,300 euros (around $3,000 USD) to compete with low-cost Chinese cars.

New Datsun models to be based on Lada platform originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Jan 2013 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> carlos ghosndatsunladalow-cost carnissanplatform sharingrussia Wed, 02 Jan 2013 07:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20414015/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20414015/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/02/new-datsun-models-to-be-based-on-lada-platform/20414015/article-detail.xml 20414015 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/lada-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/lada-628.jpg <![CDATA[Moscow plane crash captured by car's dashcam]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/31/moscow-plane-crash-captured-by-cars-dashcam/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/31/moscow-plane-crash-captured-by-cars-dashcam/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/31/moscow-plane-crash-captured-by-cars-dashcam/#comments Filed under: , , ,

Moscow plane crash video - screencap

A passenger plane attempting to land at the Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow, Russia crashed on Saturday, December 29, killing four of its eight crew members on board, according to CNN. The flight, arriving from the Czech Republic, reportedly overshot the runway and crashed through a fence, sending debris scattering across an adjacent highway. While it's too early for officials to determine the cause of the incident, authorities say pilot error, weather or a technical malfunction could be to blame.

Shockingly, a driver captured the tragic event on video via a dash cam. The clip shows the aircraft bouncing through a barrier before sending dirt, snow and pieces of the plane careening across the roadway and damaging cars. You can view the dramatic video below.

Continue reading Moscow plane crash captured by car's dashcam

Moscow plane crash captured by car's dashcam originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 31 Dec 2012 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> crashcrash videodash camdashcammoscow plane crashmoscow plane crash videoplane crashplane crash videorussiavideo Mon, 31 Dec 2012 11:56:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20413597/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20413597/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/31/moscow-plane-crash-captured-by-cars-dashcam/20413597/article-detail.xml 20413597 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/moscow-plane-crash-video-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/moscow-plane-crash-video-628.jpg <![CDATA[Ural Yamal Limited Edition is a two-wheel-drive motorcycle with an oar]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/02/ural-yamal-limited-edition-is-a-two-wheel-drive-motorcycle-with/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/02/ural-yamal-limited-edition-is-a-two-wheel-drive-motorcycle-with/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/02/ural-yamal-limited-edition-is-a-two-wheel-drive-motorcycle-with/#comments Filed under: , , ,

Ural Yamal Limited Edition

As far as we're aware, there isn't another motorcycle in the world - especially one with a sidecar and two-wheel drive - that comes straight from the factory with a wooden oar. As in, for paddling. Which is why the flat-orange-painted Ural Yamal Limited Edition is so great.

As printed on the handy-dandy oar:

In case of emergency:
If you are reading this then you have wandered out too far, and the ice didn't hold - we're very sorry. In an effort to make it back alive, you may want to follow these survival tips:
  • Abandon all hope - it will help you focus
  • Detach sidecar, jump in, and then paddle like heck
  • Rescue your dog - they're better at finding their way home than you are
  • Should you find yourself sinking, use your seat cushion as a flotation device
Tongue-in-cheek, for sure. We love it. We especially appreciate the fine print below:
  • Ural cannot be held responsible for global warming
  • Water damage not covered under warranty
  • This vehicle is not a boat, nor is the paddle or any part of the motorcycle intended to be used as a flotation device.
  • Survival may depend on other factors. Your wife was right, who goes fishing in winter?
Now what we've established that the Yamal comes with a paddle that isn't to be used for paddling, there's one logical question left: Where might the rider be paddling anyway? Good question: Ural says the word Yamal "means "the end of the Earth," and is "a peninsula in Russia known for being nothing short of inhospitable, barren, and perpetually frozen." It's also the name of an ice-breaker that operates in the Arctic Circle just north of Siberia.

In addition to the oar, also included in the Yamal package are dual fog lights on the sidecar, weather-proofing on the bottom of the sidecar tub and the fenders. Oh, and a scary tooth decal that mimics the actual Yamal ice-breaker. See the gallery above, and scroll below for the press release.

Continue reading Ural Yamal Limited Edition is a two-wheel-drive motorcycle with an oar

Ural Yamal Limited Edition is a two-wheel-drive motorcycle with an oar originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 02 Dec 2012 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> ice breakerrussian ice breakersidecarsidecar motorcycleuralural yamal limited editionyamal Sun, 02 Dec 2012 16:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20392127/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20392127/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/02/ural-yamal-limited-edition-is-a-two-wheel-drive-motorcycle-with/20392127/article-detail.xml 20392127 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/ural-yamal_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/ural-yamal.jpg <![CDATA[Watch this strongman set a world record for pulling a truck... with his ear]]> http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/01/watch-this-strongman-set-a-world-record-for-pulling-a-truck-w/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/01/watch-this-strongman-set-a-world-record-for-pulling-a-truck-w/ http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/01/watch-this-strongman-set-a-world-record-for-pulling-a-truck-w/#comments Filed under: , ,

Man pulls truck with ear - video

When I was a teenager, people thought I was crazy because I started slowly gauging my ears (full disclosure: I didn't get very far). But that doesn't even compare to the absurdity that you'll find in this video.

Lasha Pataraya, a Georgian strongman, has reportedly set a new world record for pulling a truck with his ear. The truck weighed more than eight tons, and Pataraya managed to drag it a full 70 feet with a rope tied around his ear while a crowd cheered him on. Being a super-strong dude is one thing, but deciding to do something like this is just... well, we'll leave that for you to decide.

If the description above doesn't make you cringe enough (my ears hurt just thinking about it), scroll down to watch all the action unfold.

Continue reading Watch this strongman set a world record for pulling a truck... with his ear

Watch this strongman set a world record for pulling a truck... with his ear originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 01 Dec 2012 19:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]> eargeorgiaLasha Patarayarussiastrong mantruckvideoworld record Sat, 01 Dec 2012 19:03:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20392049/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20392049/article-comments.html http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/01/watch-this-strongman-set-a-world-record-for-pulling-a-truck-w/20392049/article-detail.xml 20392049 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/earvideo_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/earvideo.jpg -1 2