We obsessively cover the auto industry…

Are you sad you missed out on the limited-edition Fiat 500 by Gucci the first time around? Well, fear not. You, too, can once again channel your inner Jennifer Lopez and pick up one of the co-branded little hatches starting this spring – but just like last time, Fiat will only be offering the Gucci 500s for a limited time.

Fiat will offer Gucci versions of both the hardtop 500 and cloth-top 500C, priced from $23,750 and $27,750, respectively, not including *$800 for destination. That's a pretty big price jump over the $18,500 500 Lounge hardtop – you could get the higher-output Turbo or Abarth models for the same or even less cash – but seeing as how Fiat had no trouble moving any of the Gucci-branded 500s last time they came to town, we're sure these will still fly off dealer lots.

And it's not like you don't get some fancy content for that coin. There's a new interior environment that either can be done up in all black, or a black/white contrast, to match the exterior color choices of, well, black or white. There are high-quality leathers used throughout the cabin, as well as satin chrome accents. Outside, the signature Gucci green/red/green stripe runs along the beltline on hardtop models, and along the cloth top on the 500C. Gucci badging is found on the door frames, accented with chrome mirrors and door handles. And of course, there are unique 15-inch aluminum wheels with the interlocking "GG" design on the center caps.

Scroll down for all the details in Fiat's press release.

There have been quite a few recalls to report lately, but as proof that no automaker is immune from the bug, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced a recall that affects almost the entire 2012-13 Aston Martin lineup of vehicles. A total of 689 DB9, Rapide, Virage, V8 Vantage and V12 Vantage models built between May 2012 and April 2013 are being recalled due to an issue with the throttle pedal arm that could cause it to break without warning. Only 498 recalled vehicles are currently in customers' possession.

Aston Martin says that the first broken throttle pedal was experienced at a press event back in March, and after the part was examined it was determined that the issue was caused by an incorrect manufacturing process. To fix the problem, Aston Martin will be replacing the throttle pedal assemblies on affected vehicles, but no dates have yet been announced for when the recall will begin. Scroll down for more info on the recall as well as contact numbers for Aston Martin and NHTSA.

South Carolina may soon lead the way into the future with electronic license plates for cars and trucks. Using so-called electronic paper, technology similar to what is seen on digital readers like the Amazon Kindle, these new license plates would be capable of dynamically changing from normal numbers and letters to a word like SUSPENDED, UNINSURED or STOLEN.

Both passing motorists and police would be able to read the plate's message, and the designers say warning messages could be in bright red or made to flash. Each digital license plate would be linked to the DMV using a cellular connection, and power for the display would be generated either by the vibrations of an automobile or by a solar film over the plate. Power would only be required to change the plate's display – no power is required to keep the current display in place, and its creators say the DMV would not be able to track the plate.

At present, a proposal is in the works that would see state-owned vehicles in South Carolina use these electronic plates in a pilot program. If successful, and if cost can be brought to manageable levels, electronic plates could replace the simple stamped metal plates currently in use across the country. We have to wonder, though, how the general population would react to digital license plates that are connected wireless to an agency like the DMV. Why not voice your opinion in our completely unscientific poll, but not before watching the video report below.

While a lots of the driving games shown off at this year's Entertainment Electronics Expo (E3) leverage the vast power of the new Xbox One and Playstation 4 consoles, Polyphony Digital's Gran Turismo 6 will attempt to squeeze one more round out of the venerable Playstation 3. After playing a short demo version of GT6 here in Los Angeles, we can see both upside and downside with that strategy.

On the positive side, though we don't know the official release date just yet, it's extremely likely that Gran Turismo 6 will be available to play before 2013 is out. That means more racing fun around this year's holiday season; most likely, we'll all be digging into the best ever rendition of GT, with new tracks, cars and a revised dynamic modeling. A list of some of the new cars is highlighted in the press release below, but the C7 Corvette is heavily featured (there was one on the stage next to GT's play area), and the Nissan DeltaWing might be the first car we have to save up for and buy.

As is the franchise's wont, the physics behind car and track are powerfully realistic in GT6. Developers worked with Yokohama on a new tire model, KW Automotive on a new suspension model and refined the aerodynamic model to boot. The result, at least in our ten minutes at the helm, is remarkably true to life; satisfying to get right, and sometimes quite frustrating during the hard bits.

The bad part of sticking with the PS3 hardware is that, of course, GT6 doesn't have the raw power of new titles on next-gen systems – most notably Forza Motorsport 5. The E3 crowds have been all but inundated with the rendering capability, speed and flawless online capabilities of the driving games for PS4 and Xbox One. We'll have to wait for the full version of the game to be sure (the pre-alpha GT6 we sampled is not fully baked), but it'll be a tough go in early 2014 when the newest software starts to hit. Scroll down below to see the Gran Turismo 6 concept movie or to read the official press release.

A new analysis of data from New York State has revealed that less than half of those who took a driving test in New York City last year passed the on-road exam. According to the New York Daily News, a total of 46 percent of the 181,196 individuals who took the basic road test in 2012 passed the assessment, down from 52 percent the year prior. Not surprisingly, the American Automobile Association and driving school owners point to the fact that schools have cut driver's education in an attempt to save money as the main culprit behind the slide. Ill-qualified family members often step in to fill the educational gap, and the result is young drivers who aren't properly prepared for a road test.

In New York, those applying for a driver's license are required to first get a learner's permit and complete a five-hour driving course. New drivers under the age of 18 must complete 50 hours of driving practice while supervised by a licensed driver. The state requires 15 of those hours to be at night.

Conventional wisdom would dictate that Chevrolet sales in Europe should accelerate as more and more buyers battered by the continent's sour economy look to save money by choosing small, inexpensive cars over larger, more expensive options. After all, Chevrolet is positioned as General Motors' value brand, and it offers a number of affordable vehicles in popular inexpensive segments. Globally, Chevy sales are up four percent so far this year.

All of this is why Chevy's declining sales in Europe come as a something of a mystery. According to Automotive News, sales of the Spark and Matiz twins have fallen 37 percent to 12,245 units through April of 2013. The Aveo (now sold in North America under the Sonic nameplate) posted similar declines, falling 44 percent to 10,235 units. Other budget brands like Dacia and Kia have registered significant gains over the same period.

So, why the sales funk? Industry analysts cited by AN point a finger at Chevy's aging designs and their comparatively high fuel consumption – Chevy's average carbon emissions (which can determine taxation rates) put it in 18th place in Europe out of 20 total automakers. Further problems arise when you consider that some of Chevy's popular models can also be found in Opel and Vauxhall dealerships, albeit with revisions designed to give Opel "a distinctive brand positioning" to "aim at different customers," says GM.

Clearly, Chevy's offering and market position aren't working as well as GM would like, and analysts aren't predicting any significant improvement until 2016, when some of its aging models are slated to be replaced.

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that America's tire rental business is growing. Companies that previously specialized in rent-to-own wheels are now shifting their business to provide low-income drivers with rent-to-own tires. Customers can pay as little as $14 per month for new rubber, but may wind up paying as much as four times the retail price by the time all's said and done. While the first rent-to-own wheel and tire dealer surfaced in the mid '90s, the business has been expanding.

Part of the issue is that tire prices have increased dramatically in recent years – according to the story, trade publication Modern Tire Dealer says that the average price of a passenger car tire increased some 57 percent between 2006 and 2012. The boom in business is also being attributed to statistics that say that average household income has fallen by more than five percent since 2009, and the number of individuals with severely damaged credit has jumped to 35 percent since then. Rent-to-own businesses often don't require a credit check, ask for relatively small down payments and allow customers to return merchandise at any time without penalty. All told, the rent-to-own market in the US is an $8.5 billion per year business, and while tires make up a tiny slice of that total figure, the business is growing.

Meanwhile, customers who miss payments can face aggressive lenders. Since the rent-to-own businesses technically own the property until the last payment is made, some states place failure to pay on the same level as theft, which can lead to police involvement. As The Los Angeles Times reports, RimTyme, which operates in North Carolina, Virginia and Georgia, makes as many as three repossessions per week.

Is it possible for a minivan to be more exciting than an Acura NSX? Well, Honda is trying to find out by entering a 532-horsepower Odyssey into the 2013 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb with IndyCar racer Simon Pagenaud behind the wheel.

Starting with a stock Odyssey, Honda dropped in a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 producing an estimated 532 hp and 460 pound-feet of torque as well as racing suspension, tires and brakes and one of the biggest roll cages you're likely to ever see. If this van looks familiar to you, you aren't alone – it's a veteran of the Tire Rack One Lap of America.

In addition to this super minivan, Honda will also be entering a first-gen NSX, CR-Z hybrid, Fit EV and Acura TL into the competition as well as five motorcycles and an all-terrain vehicle. Scroll down for the full details on Honda's comprehensive assault on Pikes Peak.

Chrysler refuses Jeep recall, 2014 Toyota Corolla



Episode #336 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week, Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and Mike Harley talk about Chrysler standing by the safety of its past products, the 2014 Toyota Corolla, and of course we start with the garage and end with your questions and comments. For those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. You can follow along after the jump with our Q&A. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #336:



Topics:

• Jeep rear-mounted fuel tank controversy
• 2014 Toyota Corolla

In the Autoblog Garage:

• 2013 Nissan Pathfinder
• 2013 Kia Sorento
• 2013 Mercedes-Benz G550

Hosts: Dan Roth, Zach Bowman, Michael Harley

Runtime: 01:26:34

---

Get the podcast:
[UStream] Listen live on Mondays at 10PM Eastern at UStream
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly

Feedback:
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com

Review the show in iTunes

Looking at the fullsize pickup landscape, automakers are bringing more and more luxury to the mix. Ford has its King Ranch, GMC has the Denali and now Chevrolet is adding a High Country model, but it sounds like Ram might be looking to make a step up from its already posh Laramie Longhorn trim (shown above). Speaking with new Ram boss Reid Bigland, Automobile is reporting that Chrysler could be looking to reach even higher to add even more premium accoutrements to its truck line.

It's hard to imagine how much higher Ram could get with its luxury especially considering the 2013 Ram 3500 HD Laramie Longhorn used for our recent First Drive carried an as-tested price of $70,285 – even lighter-duty 1500 models start at $45k in LL trim. We wonder if this means we might finally get to see a production version of the Ram Long Hauler that we saw testing earlier in the year. Either way, high-dollar pickups add up to massive profit margins for automakers, so as long as there are customers willing to pay the price, we'll doubtlessly continue to see more premium features inside future trucks.

There were rain and wind and sun, sometimes all at once. There was the Wall of Champions. There was nothing happening in first place and nothing happening back in sixth during the race, but everywhere else – from the time the weekend began – it was surprises, passes, spins, more passing, flying carbon fiber and finally a couple more last-minute surprises. The Canadian Formula One Grand Prix was a proper race for all the right reasons... well, except for the part where the crowd booed the winner.

Crain's Detroit Business reports Detroit's abandoned Packard plant is set to come up for auction this September. Wayne County officially foreclosed on the property this year due to tax delinquency. The owner owed around $975,000 on the 43 parcels that make up the old manufacturing site, and bidding is expected to start at that figure. All of the parcels will be sold together as a bundled property, but if the plant fails to sell, Wayne County will put it up for auction again in October at a bundled $500 per parcel. That means that in theory, someone could walk away with the whole site for a mere $21,500.

Originally constructed in 1903, the plant covers 3.5 million square feet of floor area. Though the Packard auto brand closed up shop in 1958, other small businesses have used portions of the facility for a range of endeavors, including simple storage. Recent years have seen the plant devolve into an empty hulk, with scrappers, vandals and graffiti artists having their way with the sites many buildings.

The city of Detroit has been working to foreclose on the property for years, but wound up tangled in a legal dispute over who actually owns the land.

It's true that electric vehicles cost more than gas-powered ones (except, of course, when they don't), but the running costs are dramatically lower. How much lower? To answer that question, the Department of Energy would like to introduce you to the eGallon.

Defined as "the cost of fueling a vehicle with electricity compared to a similar vehicle that runs on gasoline," an eGallon is the DOE's new term for easily seeing how much you'll save filling up on electrons instead of gasoline. If you like using GasBuddy or MapQuest to find the lowest local price, you just might love the eGallon. After all, the national eGallon average today is just $1.14 – way under any gallon of gas you can find in the US.

Sadly, the eGallon calculator is just a rough average. You can't put in your own electricity rates, gas prices or your car's energy efficiency level. What you can do is plug in your state and see how the average gas price there compares to the average electricity price for an eGallon.

If you dig into the methodology (available in this PDF), you'll see the assumptions working in the background include 28.2 average miles per gallon, 35 average kWh per 100 miles and 12.33 cents per kWh. The eGallon calculator will be updated monthly with numbers from Energy Information Administration. This is good, because the current calculator is using a $3.42 nationwide gas price average from last December.

Based on the always-online reality of the newly minted Xbox One, it's no surprise really that there's a significant social component to most of the driving games we're seeing at Los Angeles' Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) this year. Ubisoft's The Crew writes that message in large type, with racing action that attempts to seamlessly blur the line between single-player and multi-player fun.

Available early next year for both Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's Playstation 4, The Crew will present gamers with an expansive open-world version of the United States. Developer Ivory Tower is calling the game "unprecedented" in terms of scope; hinting that everything that you can see in and around the landscape is both reachable and drivable. We're not exactly sure if that means one could, for instance, drive from Los Angeles to New York without interruption, but it seems at least that loads of major cities will be extensively rendered.

This huge world is designed to be populated with other gamers rather than car-toting bots, whom you may choose to compete with, team with or ignore completely, as you prefer (your "Crew," as it were). The second video below, which shows some real game play, details how this works very well, at least in theory.

Of course, as with all of the next-gen games we've seen to date, The Crew looks positively jaw-dropping in its graphical presentation. Scroll down to have a look for yourself, and to read the official press release.