Autoblog

Local Motors picks first-ever winner of motorcycle design challenge [w/video]

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 01 May 2013 09:28:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Etc., Videos, Motorcycle, Design/Style

Local Motors, the company behind the Rally Fighter, briefly took its four wheels off the dirt and put two on the road for a crowd-sourced motorcycle project. Working with fellow Arizona company DP Custom Cycles, Local Motors invited its community to design a motorbike based on the Harley-Davidson Sportster. More than 200 entries from ten countries were received, and the winner has been chosen in the DP Racer by Andre Costa of Portugal. Second place was the NASCAR-inspired Talledega by Italy's well-known Oberdan Bezzi, third place went to Marc Senger of the US for his NASA-themed DP Customs Lander.

DP Custom Cycles will build Costa's Racer, but hasn't said how many of them will be produced. Serial Number 0001 is already taken, though, having been auctioned off to the Local Motors community. You can watch the selection process in the video and read about the contest and finalists in the press release below, and check out the top ten entries in the high-res gallery above.

Continue reading Local Motors picks first-ever winner of motorcycle design challenge [w/video]

Local Motors picks first-ever winner of motorcycle design challenge [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 May 2013 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #318

Dan Roth — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Podcasts, Truck, Etc., Cadillac, Dodge, Lexus, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota

Toyota back on top, Barrett Jackson, Crowdsourcing your Dodge Dart payments, Nissan and Toyota double down on pickups

Episode #318 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week, Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and Michael Harley talk about Toyota regaining the No. 1 sales crown, getting your friends and family to buy you a Dodge Dart, Barrett-Jackson, and Toyota and Nissan remaining committed to their pickup trucs. We wrap with your questions, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. Keep reading for our Q&A module for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #318:

Topics:

In the Autoblog Garage:
2013 Lexus ES 300h
2013 Cadillac ATS 2.0T 6MT
2014 Subaru Forester

Hosts: Dan Roth, Zach Bowman, Michael Harley

Runtime: 01:50:11

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Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #318

Autoblog Podcast #318 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Jan 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dodge Dart Registry helps you crowdsource money for your next ride [w/video]

Jeffrey N. Ross — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 14:15:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Etc., Videos, Dodge

To be honest, we're surprised something like this didn't pop up sooner. Chrysler is riffing on gift registries for couples getting married or expecting babies and cross-pollinating it with a social media funding website like Kickstarter to help customers buy its 2013 Dodge Dart. The Dodge Dart Registry allows people to build and customize a new Dart exactly how they want it, then let other people purchase some or all of the components as gifts.

The registry lets you add features like dark headlights, dual exhaust, various wheels and even interior options without choosing a specific trim level. This sounds a lot like the system Scion uses to let its customers configure cars, and this could be a great idea for Dodge. Of course, this system has the added benefit of being a social media affair for you to share with your friends... you know, so they can help pay for some of the parts, too.

The best thing about the registry is that you can configure your dream Dart from the comfort of your home computer, which strikes us as much better than walking around Bed, Bath and Beyond for the better part of an afternoon with an electronic scanner. The one thing that Dodge doesn't offer? "Thank You" cards. Those are on you.

For more information about how to get your friends and family to help buy you a Dodge Dart, Chrysler has provided a video and press release, which we've posted below.

Continue reading Dodge Dart Registry helps you crowdsource money for your next ride [w/video]

Dodge Dart Registry helps you crowdsource money for your next ride [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Jan 2013 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan shows off crowdsourced 370Z

George Kennedy — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Nissan, Design/Style

How often do you leave a comment on a post, "It would be cool if that car had (insert Part X)." It's always fun to think "what if?" Well, Nissan has taken advantage of the creative minds of enthusiasts everywhere by crowdsourcing the build of a custom 370Z. Nothing was off limits for modification. The engine, wheels, tires, interior, and exterior were all subject to vote. Nissan even asked you what suspension to use.

The build is finally complete and Nissan is ready to show off the fruits of your choices. In stage one, Steven Lam and his team of fellow mechanics removed the front clip and hoses in order to pull the engine. Once out, the 3.7-liter six was fitted with a Greddy twin turbo kit that Lam estimates will push output over 500 horsepower. To complement the twin snails, fans chose a Greddy Ti-C catback system for more freely flowing exhaust.

Next up was the suspension, which was left to a vote by Autoblog readers (you're just gonna have to click on the first video below to see which one was selected), followed by a Stoptech big brake kit.

In stage two, the car was dyno'd, the fuel/air mix tweaked, and the aesthetics were addressed. Click on the second video to see their progress, and the final video for the eventual reveal of the crowd-customized 370Z.

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Nissan shows off crowdsourced 370Z originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Local Motors wants your help designing the next Peterbilt big rig

Jeff Sabatini — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 18:40:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Specialty, Design/Style

No, that's not Peterbilt's new concept for a futuristic long haul truck you're looking at. It's an entry in the company's RIG2: Road Icon Generation 2 competition, a contest being run by Local Motors to develop new ideas in aerodynamic designs for Peterbilt semis.

Contest entry is open through June 26, with design materials including CAD and Photoshop files available at the Local Motors Forge website. Prizes include $10,000 for the winning entry, and cash for anyone who finishes in the top ten. All will be selected via community voting, except for the top prize, which will be chosen by Peterbilt from the top 10 vote-getters.

The partnership with Peterbilt is just the latest effort in crowd-sourcing from Rally Fighter builder Local Motors, which launched its Forge collaboration site at SEMA last year.

Scroll down to read the full press release.

Continue reading Local Motors wants your help designing the next Peterbilt big rig

Local Motors wants your help designing the next Peterbilt big rig originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Jun 2012 18:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple gives Google Maps the boot, adds free turn-by-turn navigation to iPhone

Noah Joseph — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 10:44:00 EST

Filed under: Technology

The big news in the tech world right now is the World Wide Developer's Conference which Apple just concluded. That's where the House that Jobs Built unveiled its latest operating systems for both computers and mobile devices, its latest laptop computer design and more. But what does this all have to do with cars, you ask? Plenty.

First off, Apple used the high-profile press conference extravaganza to announce the integration of its Siri voice service into cars, starting with nine automakers (among them the massive General Motors group) that will be putting a dedicated button on their steering wheels to allow drivers to activate the service on their iPhones and iPads without taking their hands off the wheel or their eyes off the road. But that's not all that's of relevance to motorists from WWDC 2012.

Apple has also announced the launch of its own Maps application, replacing the Google Maps utility it had begrudgingly integrated into its devices until now. Resulting from Apple's acquisition of several erstwhile independent digital cartography operations, Maps aims to improve on the popular Google service with such features as spoken turn-by-turn directions with real-time ETA, smooth-scrolling 3D imaging, aerial flyover views of city centers and important landmarks, Siri integration and real-time traffic information.

The latter is reportedly crowdsourced anonymously from other users, leaving us with some questions regarding privacy issues. But we'll leave that to the guys with the tin-foil hats while we blissfully revel in Big Brother's latest offering to the masses. Follow the links below to see what Apple has in store in greater detail.

Apple gives Google Maps the boot, adds free turn-by-turn navigation to iPhone originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 10:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford crowdsources first Focus ST commercial for U.S.

Zach Bowman — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 12:44:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Hatchback, Ford

Ford has released the first ad for the company's upcoming Focus ST. The automaker headed to the warm streets of Key West with Tanner Foust and stunt driver Greg Tracy to give spectators a glimpse of the hot hatch's capabilities. The two wheelmen spent the evening tearing around closed sections of city streets with plenty of onlookers on hand, but there's a twist. Instead of relying on a professional film crew to capture the high-horsepower antics, Ford asked those in attendance to submit their own footage of the show. Throw in a little clever editing and we have a solid minute of sideways Focus ST action.

The 2013 Ford Focus ST starts at $24,495 and offers buyers a rash of go-fast hardware, including a turbocharged, 252-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 270 pound-feet of torque. A torque-steer compensation system keeps the heathen Focus pointed straight, and those willing to pony up a little extra cash can enjoy Recaro bucket seats indoors. Scroll down to check out the clever spot for yourself.

Continue reading Ford crowdsources first Focus ST commercial for U.S.

Ford crowdsources first Focus ST commercial for U.S. originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 12:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Local Motors builds XC2V Flypmode prototype for DARPA

Noah Joseph — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Government/Legal, Plants/Manufacturing, Videos, Military, Off-Road

Local Motors DARPA XC2V - Click above to watch the video after the jump

Typically when the Pentagon puts out a tender for a new contract, it goes to to established defense contractors. Not so with the new XC2V FlypMode combat vehicle. This time, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) crowd-sourced the project, meaning that it opened up the contract to the general public to design.

The result is the vehicle you see here. Designed by the same Local Motors behind the Rally Fighter, the XC2V - shorthand for Experimental Crowd-derived Combat-support Vehicle - is, for the time being at least, a "proof of principle project," so we're not likely to see it go into production any time soon.

Whatever becomes of this impressively capable-looking vehicle, that Local Motors managed to put the whole thing together in just 14 weeks could be the most impressive part of all. Especially considering it would probably take us longer to build a kit car, and those have all the components and instructions ready to go. Follow the jump to watch the time-lapse video of the build from start to finish.

Continue reading Local Motors builds XC2V Flypmode prototype for DARPA

Local Motors builds XC2V Flypmode prototype for DARPA originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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