Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[In Da Clubster: San Francisco design student beats Mini to speedster punch]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/27/in-da-clubster-san-francisco-design-student-beats-mini-to-speed/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/27/in-da-clubster-san-francisco-design-student-beats-mini-to-speed/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/27/in-da-clubster-san-francisco-design-student-beats-mini-to-speed/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Mini Clubster S design study by Richard Mitchell - Click above for image gallery

Variety is the spice of life - or so they say, but that seems to be the case over at BMW's Mini division, where the variants of their entertaining little runabout have been pouring out like Cristal in the V.I.P. Room. First came the hatchback, then the cabrio, then the Clubman, a crossover is nearly here, a rally version is rumored to be under consideration, and a coupe concept was just unveiled the other day. But before the party's over, Mini is expected to make a slick little speedster with a sportier flair than its existing convertible. That car could be just around the corner, but one student got tired of waiting and designed one himself.

Rather than simply Photoshopping a more rakish windshield onto the production cabrio (Mini's new coupe concept hadn't been shown when this concept was germinated), Richard Mitchell - a transportation design graduate from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco - instead conceptually started with the BMW 1 Series platform to give his design, called the Clubster S, a longer profile with rear-wheel-drive. Mitchell combined typical Mini touches with design attributes from other examples from England's deep roadster back catalog, and built it into a compelling 1:5 scale clay model, which you can check out along with a series of renderings in the gallery below.


Gallery: Mini Clubster S design study by Richard Mitchell

mini_clay_1_by_oldspeedmini_clay_2_by_oldspeedmini_clubster_photo_2_by_oldspeedmini_clubster_photo_3_by_oldspeedmini_clubster_photo_4_by_oldspeed

[Source: DeviantART]

In Da Clubster: San Francisco design student beats Mini to speedster punch originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>academy of art universityAcademyOfArtUniversityminimini clubstermini clubster smini conceptmini design studymini speedstermini speedster conceptMiniClubsterMiniClubsterSMiniConceptMiniDesignStudyMiniSpeedsterMiniSpeedsterConceptrichard mitchellRichardMitchellsan franciscoSanFranciscoThu, 27 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Keeping Drivers at Bay: San Francisco mulls congestion charge]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/02/keeping-drivers-at-bay-san-francisco-considers-congestion-charg/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/02/keeping-drivers-at-bay-san-francisco-considers-congestion-charg/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/02/keeping-drivers-at-bay-san-francisco-considers-congestion-charg/#commentsFiled under: ,

Boris Johnson for Mayor of... San Francisco? Our favorite municipal chief executive may be taking his time in dismantling the congestion charge in London, but his services may soon be needed in the City by the Bay, as local bureaucrats there contemplate instituting a new charge for motorists wishing to enter - or leave - the city's downtown core.

Driving in San Francisco is already quite an ordeal, and it's listed as the second most congested city in the United States. Motorists already have to pay tolls to cross the bridge and exorbitant parking fees, but the new initiative in the notoriously environmentally-friendly haven in Northern California (a similar initiative to that which failed in New York), could achieve its purpose of deterring motorists from driving downtown altogether. Mayor Gavin Newson is in favor of the plan - which would involve charging cars $3 on the way in as well as on the way out - as is County Transportation Authority director Jose Luis Mosovich, who likens Hurricane Katrina, the economic crisis, global warming, and yes, even terrorism to the city's burgeoning traffic crisis.

[Source: Los Angeles Times | Photo: Panoramio]

Keeping Drivers at Bay: San Francisco mulls congestion charge originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Boris JohnsonBorisJohnsoncongestioncongestion chargecongestion tollCongestionChargeCongestionTollgavin newsonGavinNewsonLuis MosovichLuisMosovichsan franciscosan francisco congestion chargesan francisco congestion tollSanFranciscoSanFranciscoCongestionChargeSanFranciscoCongestionTollFri, 02 Jan 2009 14:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Ferrari California spotted in... California, where else?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/12/ferrari-california-spotted-in-california-where-else/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/12/ferrari-california-spotted-in-california-where-else/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/12/ferrari-california-spotted-in-california-where-else/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Click for more of the Ferrari California in San Francisco

This was bound to happen sooner or later, and sooner it is: still over a month before its official public unveiling at the Paris Motor Show in October, the new Ferrari California has been spotted in its element: the streets of San Francisco.

The car was ostensibly there for a promotional photo shoot, but its presence in Northern California this close to Pebble Beach makes us wonder if Ferrari isn't planning an early peek on the putting green in Monterey. Whether at Pebble or Paris, we'll be there to bring you the latest, so stayed tuned. In the meantime check out the (admittedly blurry) photos in the gallery below.

Gallery: Ferrari California in San Francisco


[Source: Thomas Pix on Flickr via WCF]

Ferrari California spotted in... California, where else? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>californiaferrariferrari californiaferrari california san franciscoferrari california spiedFerrariCaliforniaFerrariCaliforniaSanFranciscoFerrariCaliforniaSpiedsan franciscoSanFranciscoTue, 12 Aug 2008 10:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Lexus Lanes coming to California's Bay Area]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/28/lexus-lanes-coming-to-californias-bay-area/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/28/lexus-lanes-coming-to-californias-bay-area/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/28/lexus-lanes-coming-to-californias-bay-area/#commentsFiled under: ,


Officials are hard at work trying to alleviate the notorious traffic congestion in California. Across the state, drivers sit still in traffic while carpool lanes sit empty, underused by public transit and vehicles carrying multiple passengers. The solution for the Bay Area, as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission sees it, is to allow solo motorists to pay for using the carpool lanes.

The commission is working up a proposal that would start with a pilot project in 2010 or early 2011 on I-680 S over the Sunol Grade and in both directions on I-580 between Livermore and the I-680 interchange. To implement the project over the entire 12-highway system would require the approval of state lawmakers (who are currently considering such a bill for Sacramento), as well as an investment of an estimated $3.7 billion. That would be recuperated and then some in the long run, generating an estimated $6 billion over the course of 25 years, the balance of which would be reinvested into the transportation network. If implemented, drivers running late and motivated to pay the fee would be able to move into the carpool lane at designated spots and pay with in-car transponders. Although the fees have yet to be determined, they are estimated at between 20-60 cents per mile at the outset of the program, eventually ramping up to as much as $1 per mile by 2030. Similar systems in place in southern California got the nickname "Lexus Lanes" because of the perception that the rich would use them all the time, leaving those with less means stranded in traffic. However officials cite studies that indicate that the system would be used by a wide cross-section of the socio-economic populace.

[Source: SF Chronicle via All Cars, All the Time, Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty]

Lexus Lanes coming to California's Bay Area originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bay areaBayAreacalifornialexus lanesLexusLanesmetropolitan transit commissionMetropolitanTransitCommissionsan franciscoSanFranciscoMon, 28 Jul 2008 19:19:00 EST<![CDATA[The Commute Helper gets you into carpool lane for $10]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/15/the-commute-helper-gets-you-into-carpool-lane-for-10/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/15/the-commute-helper-gets-you-into-carpool-lane-for-10/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/15/the-commute-helper-gets-you-into-carpool-lane-for-10/#commentsFiled under:



I have a brother who spends a good 50% of his time daydreaming about how to make money with inventions no one has thought of yet. Despite my protest that all the good stuff's been invented already, he continues to concoct imaginary money makers. I need to introduce my brother to this guy from San Francisco, who earns $100 to $300 a day from his invention.

This highly lucrative produce is his own ass, which he rents out to San Fran commuters who are willing to pay him to get a pass to drive in the car pool lane. The idea came to him when he was stuck in traffic one day watching people zip by in the far left lane. He decided to rent himself out for $10 to $20 a trip so that other people who didn't want to sit in traffic for two hours could bypass jams in the fast moving car pool lane.

The first time he walked out on to the freeway entrance with a sign that read, "Traffic is bad. Spend 2 hours or pay me $10 and get there in 20 minutes." It worked, and afterward he left his first paying customer, walked to the other side of the freeway, and caught a paying gig back to where he started. With business in full swing, he reportedly makes 2 to 3 roundtrips during the morning commute and 3 to 5 round trips during the evening rush, and if there's an accident that slows traffic even further, he may double his price. Genius, pure genius.

Thanks for the tip, Mike!

[Source: Personal Finance Advice]

The Commute Helper gets you into carpool lane for $10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 May 2007 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car poolcar pool laneCarPoolCarPoolLanecommute helperCommuteHelpersan franciscoSanFranciscoTue, 15 May 2007 16:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Team Autoblog crashes the BYOBW event in S.F., literally]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/team-autoblog-crashes-the-byobw-event-in-s-f-literally/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/team-autoblog-crashes-the-byobw-event-in-s-f-literally/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/04/10/team-autoblog-crashes-the-byobw-event-in-s-f-literally/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click the image above for our gallery.

We brought you our Big Wheel build up yesterday and now, we proudly present you with our 93-image gallery and video from Sunday's Bring Your Own Big Wheel (BYOBW) event in San Francisco.

According to the organizer, there was a lot of publicity right before the event and because of all the coverage, they had a record turnout. What originally began as a dozen friends temporarily closing down Lombard for a short trip down memory lane, has morphed into something even the original participants would have never imagined. Well over 100 Big Wheel-toting adolescents (mentally, not physically) were cheered on by over 2,000 spectators, as the crashed and careened their way down the street. As the organizer told us before the race began, "I'm happy we have this kind of turnout, but I don't have a permit and I don't have insurance, so please be safe and keep the Hell of the resident's shrubs."

The video is posted after the jump, along with a pic of yours truly making my way through turn three. Enjoy!

Gallery: BYOBW


Many thanks to Melissa Smith for manning the cameras while we were channeling our inner seven-year-old.

Continue reading Team Autoblog crashes the BYOBW event in S.F., literally

Team Autoblog crashes the BYOBW event in S.F., literally originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Apr 2007 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bring your own big wheelBringYourOwnBigWheelbyobwlombardlombard streetLombardStreets.f.san fransan franciscoSanFranSanFranciscosfTue, 10 Apr 2007 13:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Got scent strips? Bus shelters don't anymore]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/07/got-scent-strips-bus-shelters-dont-anymore/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/07/got-scent-strips-bus-shelters-dont-anymore/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/07/got-scent-strips-bus-shelters-dont-anymore/#commentsFiled under:

Wow, those cookies disappeared quickly. Just a day after adding scent strips to bus shelter advertisements, the "Got Milk?" people pulled them down. The new San Francisco campaign used several bus shelters with scented adhesive strips exuding the aroma of freshly baked cookies. The strips are similar to the ones most of us know from magazine advertisements for perfume or cologne. It was believed that these were the first outdoor use of such technology.

But as quickly as they appeared, the ads have gone away. Apparently there was some concern about food and scent allergies, and a lack of respect for the hungry and homeless, and therefore the strips were promptly removed. They were part of a campaign by the California Milk Processor Board, creators of the famous "Got Milk?" ads and their milk mustaches that have graced celebrity upper lips for 13 years.

Bad enough to be stuck using public transportation, but to have to endure the smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies that you can't locate and devour, now that's plain rude.

[Source: Reuters]

Got scent strips? Bus shelters don't anymore originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Dec 2006 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bus shelterBusShelterchoclate chip cookiesChoclateChipCookiesgot milk?GotMilk?san franciscoSanFranciscoscented adScentedAdThu, 07 Dec 2006 14:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Study: San Francisco's HOV lanes increase traffic congestion]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/03/study-san-franciscos-hov-lanes-increase-traffic-congestion/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/03/study-san-franciscos-hov-lanes-increase-traffic-congestion/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/03/study-san-franciscos-hov-lanes-increase-traffic-congestion/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A new study of San Francisco's high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes has revealed something disturbing: more congestion. According to researchers at UC Berkeley and Cal State University, East Bay, in a 100 mile sample section of freeway, HOV lanes have counter-intuitively led to an increase in traffic congestion.

The study utilized data collected from sensors embedded in the pavement over 4.5 years between 2001 and 2005. As San Francisco's HOV lanes are only active for 8-10 hours per day, traffic could be measured both with and without the restriction in place, allowing for the comparison.

What they found was that not only was there no increase in carpooling, but that that when HOV lanes were 'active',  traffic capacity decreased by 20-percent by increasing congestion on other lanes. A report from 2005 also noted that  in areas where HOV lanes are not separated from general traffic, accident rates increase by some 50-percent.

[Sources: TheNewspaper.com, CalAcademy.org]

 

 

Study: San Francisco's HOV lanes increase traffic congestion originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 Apr 2006 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>congestionHOVSan FranciscoSanFranciscotrafficMon, 03 Apr 2006 07:01:00 EST