Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif 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/<![CDATA[BREAKING: Toyota's chief test driver dies behind wheel of LFA in Germany]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/23/breaking-toyota-chief-test-driver-dies-lf-a-germany-ring/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/23/breaking-toyota-chief-test-driver-dies-lf-a-germany-ring/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/23/breaking-toyota-chief-test-driver-dies-lf-a-germany-ring/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Click above to view the video after the jump

According to reports, Toyota's chief test driver, 67-year-old Hiromu Naruse, has died in a crash on highway 410 near the famed Nürburgring race track in Germany. He was driving the recently spied Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition (above) at the time of the accident, and reports say he veered into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with two others test drivers in a BMW. The two BMW test drivers survived the crash, though one is reportedly still in critical condition. German video of the crash scene after the accident took place can be viewed below. Police are investigating the crash and have yet to determine its cause.

Naruse was heavily involved with the development of the Lexus LFA supercar he was driving, along with many other past sports cars from Toyota's history since he joined the company in 1963. Enthusiasts today call him the "Godfather of the LFA," though he was involved in the development of sports cars for Toyota going as far back as the storied 2000GT from the late 1960s. The prototype of a special edition version of the LFA that he was driving when the accident occurred was reportedly worth 1.5 million euro.


Gallery: Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition Spy Shots


[Source: Rhein-Wied, Rhein-Zeitung, Spiegel]

Continue reading BREAKING: Toyota's chief test driver dies behind wheel of LFA in Germany

BREAKING: Toyota's chief test driver dies behind wheel of LFA in Germany originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingcrashdiesHiromu NaruseHiromuNaruselexuslexus crash germanlexus lf-alexus lfaLexusCrashGermanLexusLf-aLexusLfatoyodatoyotatoyota crash germanyToyotaCrashGermanyWed, 23 Jun 2010 13:55:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19528229/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/06/23/breaking-toyota-chief-test-driver-dies-lf-a-germany-ring/19528229/article-detail.xml 19528229 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/03-lfa-1280opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/03-lfa-1280opt.jpg <![CDATA[Jerry York, former exec of Chrysler and General Motors, dies at 71]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/18/jerry-york-former-exec-of-chrysler-and-general-motors-dies-at/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/18/jerry-york-former-exec-of-chrysler-and-general-motors-dies-at/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/18/jerry-york-former-exec-of-chrysler-and-general-motors-dies-at/#commentsFiled under:

Jerome "Jerry" York, the former CFO of Chrysler and General Motors, died today at a hospital in Pontiac, Michigan after succumbing to a brain aneurysm he suffered late Tuesday evening.

York enjoyed stints at the Big Three during the 1960s and later helped Chrysler pull its way out of its financial crisis and government bailout in 1980. He also served on the board of IBM and Apple, and earlier this decade was instrumental in efforts to bring GM back from the brink, along with an attempted takeover bid of Chrysler with Kirk Kerkorian. Apple's press release on York's death is available after the jump, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

Continue reading Jerry York, former exec of Chrysler and General Motors, dies at 71

Jerry York, former exec of Chrysler and General Motors, dies at 71 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>diesjerome yorkJeromeYorkjerry yorkjerry york diesJerryYorkJerryYorkDiesThu, 18 Mar 2010 12:49:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19405341/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/03/18/jerry-york-former-exec-of-chrysler-and-general-motors-dies-at/19405341/article-detail.xml 19405341 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/york-250op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/york-250op.jpg <![CDATA[Off to the oval in the sky: NASCAR's Bill France passes]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/05/off-to-the-oval-in-the-sky-nascars-bill-france-passes/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/05/off-to-the-oval-in-the-sky-nascars-bill-france-passes/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/06/05/off-to-the-oval-in-the-sky-nascars-bill-france-passes/#commentsFiled under:



The man that moved NASCAR into the 21st century and into the lives of more fans than his father ever could have imagined, lost his eight-year battle with cancer yesterday at the age of 74. Bill France Jr. took the reigns from Bill Sr. in 1976, and in the ensuing three decades transformed the once beleaguered sport into one of the most popular forms of entertainment in the U.S.

Several automotive news outlets have penned some compelling obits for the "ultimate general manager," who will be sorely missed by his family and friends. They've done a far better job than we can, so we'd ask you to check their stories out here, here and here.

[Source: NASCAR]

Off to the oval in the sky: NASCAR's Bill France passes originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Jun 2007 07:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill franceBillFrancedieddiesnascarstock carstock car racingStockCarStockCarRacingTue, 05 Jun 2007 07:15:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/910524/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/06/05/off-to-the-oval-in-the-sky-nascars-bill-france-passes/910524/article-detail.xml 910524 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/06/bill_france_450_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/06/bill_france_450.jpg <![CDATA[Dearborn mayor dies of cancer at 52]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/06/dearborn-mayor-dies-of-cancer-at-52/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/06/dearborn-mayor-dies-of-cancer-at-52/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/06/dearborn-mayor-dies-of-cancer-at-52/#commentsFiled under: ,

On Tuesday, the citizens of Dearborn, Michigan, and Ford Motor Company lost a dear friend. Dearborn Mayor Michael Guido passed away at his home after a 9-month battle with cancer. He was 52.

Guido had been mayor of the city that Ford Motor Company calls home for nearly six terms spanning 21 years, making him one of the longest serving mayors in Michigan.

During his tenure, Guido worked closely with Ford on several projects. He was the driving force behind the $43-million dollar Ford Performing Arts and Community Center. This was one of Guido's proudest accomplishments, with its hi-tech gym, several auditoriums and a senior citizens center that's the envy of many other cities.

"He personified honor, humility and caring; traits sorely lacking in today's world. He could win over even the harshest critic with his wonderful sense of humor," said Bill Ford, executive chairman of the Ford Motor Company, "he had a deep love for Dearborn, which was returned by all whom he touched," Ford said of Guido. "I will miss him greatly."

Guido is survived by his wife, Kari Arvanigian Guido and two sons, Michael, 19, and Anthony, 14. Funeral arrangements are pending.

See Bill Ford's complete statement after the jump.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Continue reading Dearborn mayor dies of cancer at 52

Dearborn mayor dies of cancer at 52 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Dec 2006 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DearborndiesFord Motor CompanyFord Performing Arts and Community CenterFordMotorCompanyFordPerformingArtsAndCommunityCentermayorWed, 06 Dec 2006 13:27:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/713534/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/12/06/dearborn-mayor-dies-of-cancer-at-52/713534/article-detail.xml 713534 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/12/guido1_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2006/12/guido1.jpg -1 2