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[Take a look inside Koenigsegg's headquarters and peek at its future tech]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/25/take-a-look-inside-koenigseggs-headquarters-and-peek-at-their-f/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/25/take-a-look-inside-koenigseggs-headquarters-and-peek-at-their-f/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/25/take-a-look-inside-koenigseggs-headquarters-and-peek-at-their-f/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



The YouTube series Drive has been doing weekly videos on Koenigsegg, and in this latest they get into the Free Valve technology being developed by Swedish company Cargine AB and Koenigsegg. Free Valve uses a small, individual pneumatic actuator to open each valves and either air pressure or springs to close them. The setup omits the need for camshafts and the related paraphernalia, as well as increasing the programmability, precision and efficiency of valve operation. Engines using the Free Valve system can also be smaller and lighter.

It has been tested for the last two years on a Saab 9-5 wagon that's done 60,000 kilometers so far. Koenigsegg says that compared to a traditional four-cylinder engine, horsepower and torque using Free Valve go up by 30 percent each, while fuel consumption drops by 30 percent and emissions drop by 50 percent.

It won't be ready for mass production for a while yet, and even then it will probably start at the top of the automotive food chain. Nevertheless, it points to a potential new future for the internal combustion engine. Check out the video below to see it in action.

Continue reading Take a look inside Koenigsegg's headquarters and peek at its future tech

Take a look inside Koenigsegg's headquarters and peek at its future tech originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Feb 2013 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Christian von Koenigseggdrivefree valvekoenigseggtechnologyvideovideosyoutubeMon, 25 Feb 2013 16:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20474338/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/25/take-a-look-inside-koenigseggs-headquarters-and-peek-at-their-f/20474338/article-detail.xml 20474338 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/koenigseggfreevalvevid_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/koenigseggfreevalvevid.jpg <![CDATA[Watch Chris Harris drive the Ferrari 458 Spider like an "idiot"]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/01/watch-chris-harris-drive-the-ferrari-458-spider-like-an-idiot/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/01/watch-chris-harris-drive-the-ferrari-458-spider-like-an-idiot/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/01/watch-chris-harris-drive-the-ferrari-458-spider-like-an-idiot/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Chris Harris gets to abuse his fair share of cars that we can only dream about driving, so why not add the Ferrari 458 Spider to that list. After somehow borrowing the keys to a Ferrari-owned 458 Spider, Harris spends about five minutes driving the 570-horsepower, open-air supercar like an "idiot" (his words, not ours).

In reality, it's impressive to watch the $257,000 (base price) 458 Spider being drifted and pushed hard into every turn. Not surprisingly, the car handles the "bad behavior" very well, but what is amazing is how easy it is for Harris to talk to the camera despite the top being down and the engine being at full throttle almost the entire time.

If you like watching Ferraris get sideways, you will most certainly enjoy Harris' video, which is posted below.

Continue reading Watch Chris Harris drive the Ferrari 458 Spider like an "idiot"

Watch Chris Harris drive the Ferrari 458 Spider like an "idiot" originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Feb 2013 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 ferrari 458 spider458 spiderchris harrisdriveferrariFri, 01 Feb 2013 19:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20446449/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/01/watch-chris-harris-drive-the-ferrari-458-spider-like-an-idiot/20446449/article-detail.xml 20446449 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/chris-harris-ferrari-458-spider-1359748634_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/chris-harris-ferrari-458-spider-1359748634.jpg <![CDATA[Volvo S60 Polestar concept plays in the snow with Mercedes C63 AMG]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/24/volvo-s60-polestar-concept-plays-in-the-snow-with-mercedes-c63-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/24/volvo-s60-polestar-concept-plays-in-the-snow-with-mercedes-c63-a/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/24/volvo-s60-polestar-concept-plays-in-the-snow-with-mercedes-c63-a/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Volvo S60 Polestar Concept on Drive

Chris Harris took to a snowy stretch of tarmac to get a fingertips-on-the-wheel feel of the Volvo S60 Polestar concept. Harris says the turbocharged sedan with 508 horsepower and 424 pound-feet of torque - and a manual transmission - is "a study to see if Volvo can get back into the fast-car market." The Polestar S60 concept, one of which was already purchased for $300,000 by a private buyer, is still making the publicity rounds because even Volvo's Chinese owners realize that, as Harris says, "Volvo sold more cars because it made fast cars" like the old 850 T5 Wagon that stormed the British Touring Car Championship in the 1990s.

For reference, Harris compares the blue wonder to the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG and its 487 hp and 442 lb-ft. The question is, were Volvo to get the price of a production version of the S60 Polestar to climb way down from its 200,000-pound sticker, could it be worthy competition to the established giants?

You can watch Harris divine the answer via a lot of drifting through the snow and a drag race in the video below.

Continue reading Volvo S60 Polestar concept plays in the snow with Mercedes C63 AMG

Volvo S60 Polestar concept plays in the snow with Mercedes C63 AMG originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Jan 2013 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>c63 amgchris harrisdrivemercedes-benzs60s60 polestars60 polestar conceptvideovideosvolvoyoutubeThu, 24 Jan 2013 19:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20437365/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/24/volvo-s60-polestar-concept-plays-in-the-snow-with-mercedes-c63-a/20437365/article-detail.xml 20437365 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/volvo-s60-polestar-drive_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/volvo-s60-polestar-drive.jpg <![CDATA[<i>RideApart</i> defends lane splitting on motorcycles [w/poll]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/16/rideapart-defends-lane-splitting-on-motorcycles-w-poll/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/16/rideapart-defends-lane-splitting-on-motorcycles-w-poll/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/16/rideapart-defends-lane-splitting-on-motorcycles-w-poll/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Three devoted motorcyclists at RideApart have put together a video that goes soup-to-nuts through the practice of lane splitting (called "filtering" in the UK) - where motorcycles are ridden safely in between the cars in traffic. It's illegal in 49 states, California being the exception, and in numerous countries.

The riders say that lane splitting is safe, it aids the flow of traffic and having increased freedom of movement gives them more control of their own safety when being around cars in traffic. Car drivers often don't like it, but when it comes to the issue of actual safety versus perceived safety, the evidence appears to support lane splitting. One of the riders in the video cites a Belgian study that found that fatalities in which a motorcyclist was rear-ended by a car were 30 percent lower in California than in Texas and Florida, the difference being that lane-splitting is illegal in those latter two states.

On top of that, the California highway patrol vouches for its legality and CHP officers do it, a study by the US Department of Transportation declared that "lane splitting is safer than sitting in stop-and-go traffic" and according to a lawyer who specializes in motorcycle accidents the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that "most accidents are the fault of motorists [car drivers]."

Have a watch of the video below, and then take the poll and let us know where you stand... or ride.

View Poll

Continue reading RideApart defends lane splitting on motorcycles [w/poll]

RideApart defends lane splitting on motorcycles [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Jan 2013 12:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drivelane splittingmotorcyclerideapartsafetyvideovideosyoutubeWed, 16 Jan 2013 12:44:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20427075/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/16/rideapart-defends-lane-splitting-on-motorcycles-w-poll/20427075/article-detail.xml 20427075 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/lanesplittingride-apart_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/lanesplittingride-apart.jpg <![CDATA[Chris Harris discovers new niche with Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/20/chris-harris-discovers-new-niche-with-mercedes-benz-cls-shooting/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/20/chris-harris-discovers-new-niche-with-mercedes-benz-cls-shooting/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/09/20/chris-harris-discovers-new-niche-with-mercedes-benz-cls-shooting/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Chris Harris reviews Mercedes-Benz CLS Shooting Brake

There are a number of interesting tidbits in Chris Harris' review of the Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake, one of them being that he spends most of his seat time talking about the station wagon like it's a sports car. This isn't all that surprising if you limit yourself to the side of the spec sheet that lists "twin-turbo V8 with 557 horsepower and 531 pound-feet of torque, limited-slip differential and seven-speed paddle-shifted transmission."

One the other side, though, is the part about it being more than 16 feet long, having four doors, seating for five and a cargo capacity that can go from 590 liters to 1,550 liters by folding down the rear seats (that's about 21 cubic feet to 55 cubic feet). And that gets Harris examining how a wagon can not only fill a niche, but can actually be something special and, perhaps, even a cult vehicle.

Another measure of how far the automotive world has come is when Harris says, "Only a little 285-section [tire] at the back," which means a new goalpost for "little" tire sizes comes from a review of a station wagon. You can see what else Harris has to say in the video below.

Continue reading Chris Harris discovers new niche with Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake

Chris Harris discovers new niche with Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG Shooting Brake originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Sep 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 mercedes-benz cls63 amg shooting brakeamgchris harrisclscls 63 amgcls 63 amg shooting brakecls shooting brakecls-classdrivemercedes-benzshooting brakevideoThu, 20 Sep 2012 20:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20328640/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/09/20/chris-harris-discovers-new-niche-with-mercedes-benz-cls-shooting/20328640/article-detail.xml 20328640 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/chris-harris-cls-shooting-brake_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/09/chris-harris-cls-shooting-brake.jpg <![CDATA[Chris Harris pits Porsche 911 GT2 RS against Ducati 1199 Panigale]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/26/chris-harris-pits-porsche-911-gt2-rs-against-ducati-1199-panigal/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/26/chris-harris-pits-porsche-911-gt2-rs-against-ducati-1199-panigal/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/26/chris-harris-pits-porsche-911-gt2-rs-against-ducati-1199-panigal/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

porsche 911 gt2rs and ducati 1199 panigale at santa pod dragstrip

Just because you can't ride a motorcycle doesn't mean you can't appreciate them. Chris Harris is one of those guys who can't ride, but admits to being fascinated by motorcycles. So to that end, he brought his pal Ben Cope from visordown.com to Santa Pod drag strip with a Ducati 1199 Panigale to face it off against a Porsche 911 GT2 RS.

Some numbers to ponder. The Porsche has six cylinders, 620 horsepower, and a traditional manual transmission. The Ducati packs just two cylinders, but doesn't give up any enthusiasm to the Porsche, with an astounding 192 hp from its V-Twin. You might think the bike would spank the Porsche, but consider this: both vehicles proved tricky to launch.

So, which extreme machine is quicker? Scroll down to watch the video.

Continue reading Chris Harris pits Porsche 911 GT2 RS against Ducati 1199 Panigale

Chris Harris pits Porsche 911 GT2 RS against Ducati 1199 Panigale originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Jul 2012 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris harrischris harris porsche ducatidriveducatiducati 1199 panigalemotorcycle versus carporscheporsche 911 gt2rsporsche ducati raceThu, 26 Jul 2012 18:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20286488/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/26/chris-harris-pits-porsche-911-gt2-rs-against-ducati-1199-panigal/20286488/article-detail.xml 20286488 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/gt2-vs-panigale_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/gt2-vs-panigale.jpg <![CDATA[Chris Harris wrings out Pagani Huayra in Modena]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/12/chris-harris-wrings-out-pagani-huayra-in-modena/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/12/chris-harris-wrings-out-pagani-huayra-in-modena/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/12/chris-harris-wrings-out-pagani-huayra-in-modena/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



Chris Harris took himself to Modena for an afternoon test drive in the Pagani Huayra. To watch him panting after a spell up some twisty roads, you'd have thought he'd gone for some afternoon delight. It's the most breathless we've ever seen Mr. Harris, and for all the right reasons - perhaps it shouldn't be surprising when he's intentionally getting loosey-goosey in a coupe with an AMG-sourced twin-turbo V12 trying to put down 730 horsepower and 735 pound-feet of torque on some roads as thin as an olive branch.

He agrees with the recent review from EVO that the Huayra is truly sorted in the speed and suspension department, and he does decree the steering slow for the esses he's navigating, but unlike EVO, he loves the gearbox and he pulls off his review without any unfortunate squeaking.

And he loves the car. And its thrills. Check them all out in the video below.

Continue reading Chris Harris wrings out Pagani Huayra in Modena

Chris Harris wrings out Pagani Huayra in Modena originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Jul 2012 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 pagani huayrachris harrisdrivehuayrapaganipagani huayravideoThu, 12 Jul 2012 12:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20276510/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/12/chris-harris-wrings-out-pagani-huayra-in-modena/20276510/article-detail.xml 20276510 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/harrishuayradrive_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/harrishuayradrive.jpg <![CDATA[1,000 miles in the McLaren MP4-12C: Day Two]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/04/1-000-miles-in-the-mclaren-mp4-12c-day-two/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/04/1-000-miles-in-the-mclaren-mp4-12c-day-two/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/04/1-000-miles-in-the-mclaren-mp4-12c-day-two/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Check out 1,000 miles in the McLaren MP4-12C: Day One



DAY TWO - THE FASTER CURVES OVER HILL AND VALLEY

If the first day was a warm-up just to get us to the good stuff in central France, Day Two of my McLaren MP4-12C odyssey was one type of pure sports car touring pleasure. The sun was everywhere, the roads were pure entertainment, and the five test cars glowed through the daylight hours.

I'm not talking about encountering a wild series of hairpins, mind you, but rather higher speed roads nonetheless filled with satisfying curves and stunning countryside. First, however, right at the start of the day's driving leg, I had a stop at the former grand prix circuit Reims-Gueux.

This more or less 7.8-km long (4.8-mile) circuit was extremely fast and therefore dangerous, given that in its earlier layout before 1951 it was essentially a triangle with three sharp right-handers and three very long straights to get you into trouble quickly should something go wrong. From 1954 through its closure in 1972, the circuit was reconfigured to an even faster 8.3 kms (5.2 mi). The main straight is nowadays actually the busy two-lane highway RN31 and the entire grandstand is still there on one side, the well-kept pit area on the other. Here and there around the pit structure is stenciled a beautiful sentiment: "Memoire des pilotes, respect du site." France is a nation not unknown for its abundant graffiti, but there is none of it to be seen here.

Continue reading 1,000 miles in the McLaren MP4-12C: Day Two

1,000 miles in the McLaren MP4-12C: Day Two originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Jul 2012 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>000 miles11000 miles12ccross-countrydrivelondonmclarenmclaren mp4-12cmonacomp4-12croad tripvideoWed, 04 Jul 2012 11:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20265955/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/07/04/1-000-miles-in-the-mclaren-mp4-12c-day-two/20265955/article-detail.xml 20265955 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/11-mclaren-mp4-12c-london-to-monaco-day-2-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/07/11-mclaren-mp4-12c-london-to-monaco-day-2-opt.jpg <![CDATA[Chris Harris explains what makes his own 1986 BMW M5 so special]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/chris-harris-explains-what-makes-his-own-1986-bmw-m5-so-special/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/chris-harris-explains-what-makes-his-own-1986-bmw-m5-so-special/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/chris-harris-explains-what-makes-his-own-1986-bmw-m5-so-special/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



The 70s were a definitive decade for music and movies. Fashion and cars, not so much. The 80s corrected one of those oversights, an era of ethereal supercars like the Porsche 959, game-changing exotics like the Ferrari Testarossa, and, best of all, everday cannons that offered mortals a generous portion of lairy thrills, such as Chris Harris' 1986 e28 BMW M5.

In 1986, a 3,100-pound, 286-horsepower luxury sedan straight from the factory that could also handle was as rare as a goose with lips. Sure, there was a more powerful AMG Mercedes-Benz E-Class but it didn't want to get into a lengthy conversation about handling, and there was the AMG Hammer, but that was a terrifically expensive tuner special. The M5 weighed the same as the 1986 Chevrolet Corvette and had 225-section rear tires just like the 'Vette, but the M5 had 36 more horsepower. And it had four, leather-covered seats. And it could corner.

All of which has to do with why Drive's Chris Harris spends eight minutes explaining, and showing, why he loves his personal M5 so much. Scroll down to learn about the sedan that compels him to say "it's the best money I've ever spent on a car."

Continue reading Chris Harris explains what makes his own 1986 BMW M5 so special

Chris Harris explains what makes his own 1986 BMW M5 so special originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 May 2012 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1986 bmw m55 seriesbmwbmw m5chris harrisdrivee28m5videoFri, 25 May 2012 13:45:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20243975/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/25/chris-harris-explains-what-makes-his-own-1986-bmw-m5-so-special/20243975/article-detail.xml 20243975 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/harrise28m53_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/harrise28m53.jpg <![CDATA[Is this 1972 Chevrolet Nova the world's greatest sleeper?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/is-this-1972-chevrolet-nova-the-worlds-greatest-sleeper/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/is-this-1972-chevrolet-nova-the-worlds-greatest-sleeper/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/is-this-1972-chevrolet-nova-the-worlds-greatest-sleeper/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Dru Deisner's 1972 Chevrolet Nova

Those of you foolish enough to follow the Autoblog Podcast know I have a soft spot for sleepers. There's just something amazing about a beaten old car secreting flawless mechanicals down below. The guys at Big Muscle have managed to track down what may very well be the queen of all sleeperdom in Dru Diesner's 1972 Chevrolet Nova The machine wears its original faded green paint, plenty of dents and dings and a very dated interior, but there's something special under the aged skin. Built with a twin-supercharged LS2, the Bowtie dumps 1,160 horsepower on its ultra-wide rear tires.

That's my kind of magical. Mike Musto takes the machine out for a quick sprint around the back streets of Chicago and eventually talks Diesner into using the car to do what it does best: vaporizing its rear tires. Scroll below to check out the clip for yourself. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have Chevrolet Novas to salivate over.

Continue reading Is this 1972 Chevrolet Nova the world's greatest sleeper?

Is this 1972 Chevrolet Nova the world's greatest sleeper? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 May 2012 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1972 chevrolet novabig musclechevrolet novadrivedru diesnermike mustonovanova sleepernova sleeper videosleepervideoTue, 15 May 2012 12:05:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20237901/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/05/15/is-this-1972-chevrolet-nova-the-worlds-greatest-sleeper/20237901/article-detail.xml 20237901 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/dru-diesner-chevrolet-nova_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/05/dru-diesner-chevrolet-nova.jpg <![CDATA[Chris Harris + M5 + GT-R. You'll want to watch this]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/15/chris-harris-m5-gt-r-youll-want-to-watch-this/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/15/chris-harris-m5-gt-r-youll-want-to-watch-this/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/02/15/chris-harris-m5-gt-r-youll-want-to-watch-this/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



Pitting the Nissan GT-R against the all-new BMW M5 is ridiculous. They're two different beasts in two different classes with two different purposes. It's a cynical, SEO-optimized comparison. And even worse, it's already been done. But...

We can't help but post on it. Not because it's clicky or that a few of us have man-crushes on Chris Harris. No. It's because watching the two cars being flogged back-to-back on a damp circuit demonstrates how technologically sophisticated each one is and how they go about putting the power down so differently. You can actually see the GT-R - traction control switched off - trying to right itself as Harris flings it sideways, while the M5 slackens and goes neutral while the turbocharged eight responds like a naturally aspirated mill.

Scary with a capital "F?" Indeed. But just as educating as it is entertaining. See for yourself below the fold.

Continue reading Chris Harris + M5 + GT-R. You'll want to watch this

Chris Harris + M5 + GT-R. You'll want to watch this originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012 bmw m52012 nissan gt-rbmwbmw m5chris harrisdrivem5nissannissan gt-rnissan gtrWed, 15 Feb 2012 20:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20172786/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/02/15/chris-harris-m5-gt-r-youll-want-to-watch-this/20172786/article-detail.xml 20172786 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/harris-gtr-m5_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/02/harris-gtr-m5.jpg <![CDATA[Potential. DRIVE has it.]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/14/potential-drive-has-it/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/14/potential-drive-has-it/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/14/potential-drive-has-it/#commentsFiled under: ,



The world doesn't need another "car show." It needs a dedicated network for gearheads. And that's what DRIVE is aiming to deliver on YouTube this January.

Produced by Tangent Vector's JF Musial (those great Porsche vids recently? That's him and his crew) and hosted by Chris Harris, Mike Spinelli, Leo Parente, Alex Roy and an assorted cast of characters, DRIVE will be putting out a range of auto-related shows covering everything from car reviews to motorsports.

Musial tells Autoblog that Harris will be the point-man for video reviews, with Parente handling motorsports coverage, Spinelli doing some form of news show and Roy taking his antics around the world for road-trip stories. So this isn't just a single show, but a series of artfully crafted online videos that are part of YouTube's original content push.

Check out the teaser video after the jump and subscribe to the channel now before its big launch next month.

Continue reading Potential. DRIVE has it.

Potential. DRIVE has it. originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>driveWed, 14 Dec 2011 14:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20128035/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/14/potential-drive-has-it/20128035/article-detail.xml 20128035 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/drive-cap-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/drive-cap-628.jpg <![CDATA[MI woman sues over 'misleading' <i>Drive</i> movie trailer [w/video]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/10/mi-woman-sues-over-misleading-drive-movie-trailer-w-vi/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/10/mi-woman-sues-over-misleading-drive-movie-trailer-w-vi/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/10/mi-woman-sues-over-misleading-drive-movie-trailer-w-vi/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Drive movie trailer

With the unemployment rate in Michigan still topping 11% and a new law cutting benefits from 26 weeks to just 20, there is a growing fear among social services workers that people will start taking drastic measures to survive. While we're not sure if financial necessity and/or having lots of extra time on her hands pushed a Detroit-area moviegoer to sue the theater where she saw Drive, her legal action certainly qualifies as "drastic."

Naming both the theater and the film's distributor in her lawsuit, reports say Sarah Deming not only wants her money back but also seeks to put an end to "misleading" movie trailers, like the one she claims duped her into seeing Drive. The bait-and-switch, if you can believe it, is that Deming was expecting to see a clone of The Fast and the Furious. You can see the film's trailer after the jump, and if you want in on the legal action yourself, WDIV is reporting that Deming's attorney, Martin H. Leaf, is seeking class action status.

According to WDIV, Deming's lawsuit further describes the film's contents as "extreme gratuitous defamatory dehumanizing racism directed against members of the Jewish faith." While we are certainly not going to weigh in on those accusations, the film did win its director, Nicolas Winding Refn, a Best Director Award at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. Pulitzer Prize winning critic Roger Ebert described Drive thusly: "Here is a movie with respect for writing, acting and craft. It has respect for knowledgable moviegoers."

Continue reading MI woman sues over 'misleading' Drive movie trailer [w/video]

MI woman sues over 'misleading' Drive movie trailer [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>drivedrive moviedrive movie lawsuitlawsuitnicolas winding refnryan goslingsarah demingMon, 10 Oct 2011 14:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20077626/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/10/10/mi-woman-sues-over-misleading-drive-movie-trailer-w-vi/20077626/article-detail.xml 20077626 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/drive_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/10/drive.jpg <![CDATA[2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/03/2011-bmw-1-series-m-coupe-review-road-test/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/03/2011-bmw-1-series-m-coupe-review-road-test/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/08/03/2011-bmw-1-series-m-coupe-review-road-test/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Life in the Key of M. Minor.

2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe

If you have read the breathless reviews and overwritten comparos, you would assume that the 2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe is infused with the second coming of Senna. And for BMW to unabashedly draw a line between the M Coupe and the most holy of holies, the 1986-92 E30 M3, smacks of PRified nostalgia stoking. Call me a contrarian, but I refuse to believe the hype.

So as soon as the orange Bimmer landed on my fleet schedule, any and all reading, writing and discussion about the littlest M ceased. I would drive it for a week, live with it as if it were my own and deliver a critical, blatantly unbiased review of Life in the Key of M.

Five minutes into my first drive, I immediately pulled into a turnout, sat there for a second, took a deep breathe and realized - dammit - everyone was right. Brilliance is back in a small package.

Continue reading 2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe

2011 BMW 1 Series M Coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1 series1m coupe2011 bmw 1 series m coupebmwbmw 1 mbmw 1 series m coupedrivefeaturedm coupereviewreviewsWed, 03 Aug 2011 11:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20007646/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/08/03/2011-bmw-1-series-m-coupe-review-road-test/20007646/article-detail.xml 20007646 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/2011-bmw-1-series-m-review_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/08/2011-bmw-1-series-m-review.jpg <![CDATA[Ryan Gosling turns from stuntman to race car shoe in <i>Drive</i>]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/25/ryan-gosling-turns-from-stuntman-to-race-car-shoe-in-drive-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/25/ryan-gosling-turns-from-stuntman-to-race-car-shoe-in-drive-i/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/07/25/ryan-gosling-turns-from-stuntman-to-race-car-shoe-in-drive-i/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Drive screen capture

The only thing the car crowd loves more than a good heist movie is a good flick about getaway drivers. It's a simple formula that mixes one troubled soul running from his past to try and live the straight and narrow with a damsel in distress and one last job. It's what made BMW's The Hire series so compelling and the Fast and the Furious franchise so addicting. Now Ryan Gosling, along with the beautiful Christina Hendricks and Carey Mulligan have teamed up with director Nicholas Winding Refn for their own spin on the Hollywood staple: Drive.

The movie casts Gosling as a wheel-man by night, race car driver by day who opts to help his neighbors settle some old debts. A double-cross ensues and before you know it, there's a Ford Mustang GT being chased down a freeway backwards by a Chrysler 300, Gosling threatening to shove a bullet in some guys head via a carpenter's hammer and Hendricks looking, well, like only she can look.

We're sold, even if it means having to watch a Chevrolet Nova meet its untimely end. Hit the jump for the Drive red-band trailer.

*Warning: Potentially Not Safe For Work.

Continue reading Ryan Gosling turns from stuntman to race car shoe in Drive

Ryan Gosling turns from stuntman to race car shoe in Drive originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>christina hendricksdrivedrive moviedrive movie trailernicholas winding refnryan goslingtrailervideoMon, 25 Jul 2011 19:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19999992/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/07/25/ryan-gosling-turns-from-stuntman-to-race-car-shoe-in-drive-i/19999992/article-detail.xml 19999992 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/drive-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/07/drive-630.jpg <![CDATA[Asus shifts the hard-drive into over-drive with new Lamborghini HDD]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/09/asus-shifts-the-hard-drive-into-over-drive-with-new-lamborghini/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/09/asus-shifts-the-hard-drive-into-over-drive-with-new-lamborghini/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/09/asus-shifts-the-hard-drive-into-over-drive-with-new-lamborghini/#commentsFiled under: ,

Asus Lamborghini HDD

Things tend to get out of hand with Lamborghini. Whether you're driving one and just can't resist pushing the pedal to the floor, or buying one and end up laying down an extra five figures on options. The same goes for Lamborghini electronics, too. Sant'Agata teams up with Asus for that bit, and for better or worse, the Taiwanese computer company has given us some pretty flashy Raging Bull-adorned hardware as a result.

Of course, like a Lambo supercar, Asus' line of Lambo circuit-boxes don't come cheap. And now they've launched a suitably Lamborghini peripheral. Imbued with lines inspired by the company's sportscars, this external hard drive looks the part, and with available USB 3.0 connectivity, stands to live up to the promise of performance. Unfortunately the price tag is suitably Lambo-like as well: the starting price of $120 for a 500GB drive with the slower USB 2.0 connection makes it almost twice as expensive as an ordinary hard drive.

[Source: Asus via Engadget]

Asus shifts the hard-drive into over-drive with new Lamborghini HDD originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>asusdriveexternal hard driveexternal hddhard drivehddlamborghiniusbWed, 09 Feb 2011 07:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19834303/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/02/09/asus-shifts-the-hard-drive-into-over-drive-with-new-lamborghini/19834303/article-detail.xml 19834303 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/02/lamborghini-hddasus2011-1296587934_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/02/lamborghini-hddasus2011-1296587934.jpg <![CDATA[Quick Spin: 2010 Nissan Altima a well-mannered sedan without surprises]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/14/quick-spin-2010-nissan-altima-a-well-mannered-sedan-without-sur/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/14/quick-spin-2010-nissan-altima-a-well-mannered-sedan-without-sur/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/14/quick-spin-2010-nissan-altima-a-well-mannered-sedan-without-sur/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2010 Nissan Altima - Click above for high-res image gallery

As the company's number-one global volume vehicle, the Altima is instrumental in keeping the lights on at Nissan HQ. Now in its fourth-generation (last redesigned for the 2007 model year), the made-in-the-USA model is sold in both sedan and coupe variants with a choice of two gasoline engines or one hybrid powerplant. Nissan offers four sedans for the 2010 model year, with the Altima slotting in directly under the flagship Maxima in the lineup (with both sharing Nissan's D-platform architecture).

After spending time with the 2010 Nissan Altima, we understand why it's the brand's best selling model and while it's not a tire shredding sport sedan, this competent family hauler deserves all the kudos and sales volume it's earned.


Gallery: Quick Spin: 2010 Nissan Altima


Photos copyright (C)2009 Michael Harley / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Quick Spin: 2010 Nissan Altima a well-mannered sedan without surprises

Quick Spin: 2010 Nissan Altima a well-mannered sedan without surprises originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2010 Altima Sedan2010 Nissan2010 Nissan Altima2010 Nissan Altima Sedan2010 Sedan2010AltimaSedan2010Nissan2010NissanAltima2010NissanAltimaSedan2010SedanaltimaAltima 2.5Altima 3.Altima 3.5Altima SedanAltima SRAltima2.5Altima3.5AltimaSedanAltimaSrDrivefeaturednissanQuick SpinQuickSpinReviewWed, 14 Oct 2009 14:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19194865/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/10/14/quick-spin-2010-nissan-altima-a-well-mannered-sedan-without-sur/19194865/article-detail.xml 19194865 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/nissanaltima_qd---01_opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/nissanaltima_qd---01_opt.jpg <![CDATA[You Know, For the Kids: Volvo Motorsport launches children's racing gear]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/09/you-know-for-the-kids-volvo-motorsport-launches-childrens-rac/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/09/you-know-for-the-kids-volvo-motorsport-launches-childrens-rac/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/09/you-know-for-the-kids-volvo-motorsport-launches-childrens-rac/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Volvo Motorsport Collection - Click above for high-res image gallery

Any automaker - besides Little Tikes or Hotwheels - that tries to market to kids may find itself wasting precious advertising dollars. But as far as family cars go, Volvo seems to have made a name for itself making the safest vehicles in which parents - you know, the ones actually paying for and driving the car - can shuttle their kids around from school to karate class. Just ask any of the mothers sitting sideline at soccer practice and they'll tell you as much. That may go some way towards explaining why the Swedish automaker has taken such care in releasing the latest addition to its merchandise line.

While Volvo is hardly the first automaker to merchandise its brand image or even the first to create children's clothing, it's the first we've seen to launch one single kids t-shirt by itself. The Volvo Manager T-shirt for children bears the colors - namely green, to go with the earth-friendly DRIVe program - of the company's Swedish Touring Car Championship team on a tee made especially for the little guy, letting him (or her) in on the action while letting everyone know who's the boss: it's written there right on the back, printed on, like the rest of the badges, instead of embroidered to optimize the kid's comfort. Of course, Volvo Motorsport has a full line of gear for mom and dad as well, available on the company's website, but this piece itself is so simple that it's just, well... child's play. Details in the press release after the jump and images in the gallery below.


Gallery: Volvo Motorsport Collection


[Source: Volvo]

Continue reading You Know, For the Kids: Volvo Motorsport launches children's racing gear

You Know, For the Kids: Volvo Motorsport launches children's racing gear originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>childrenDRIVekidsswedenswedishswedish touring car championshipSwedishTouringCarChampionshipt-shirtvolvovolvo merchandisevolvo motorsportVolvoMerchandiseVolvoMotorsportThu, 09 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19090513/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/07/09/you-know-for-the-kids-volvo-motorsport-launches-childrens-rac/19090513/article-detail.xml 19090513 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/07/volvo-coll-1web_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/07/volvo-coll-1web.jpg <![CDATA[One Night Stand: Taking home the 2010 Chevy Camaro SS]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/09/one-night-stand-taking-home-the-2010-chevy-camaro-ss/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/09/one-night-stand-taking-home-the-2010-chevy-camaro-ss/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/09/one-night-stand-taking-home-the-2010-chevy-camaro-ss/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


2010 Chevrolet Camaro - Click above for a high-res gallery

You know you're off to a good evening when it starts with the delivery of a Victory Red pre-production 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS. I hadn't even pulled away from the parking garage where it was waiting for me, and it was already causing a ruckus. A young boy, waiting with his extended family for their car to be retrieved, saw the ponycar roll up. His eyes turned into saucers. "Dad, it's the car from Transformers!" he sputtered, tugging on his father's sleeve. Dad immediately chimed in with, "Whoa. Niiiice car." Grandpa looked at the car, locked eyes with me, broke into a grin and just gave a thumbs up. The Camaro elicits those sort of responses a lot. You know, because it's awesome.


Gallery: One Night Stand: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro


Photos Copyright (C)2009 Alex Núñez / Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading One Night Stand: Taking home the 2010 Chevy Camaro SS

One Night Stand: Taking home the 2010 Chevy Camaro SS originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Apr 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20102010 chevrolet camaro2010ChevroletCamarocamarocamaro reviewCamaroReviewchevroletchevydrivefeaturedfirst driveFirstDrivemuscle carMuscleCarpony carPonyCarreviewreviewsThu, 09 Apr 2009 20:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1511176/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/04/09/one-night-stand-taking-home-the-2010-chevy-camaro-ss/1511176/article-detail.xml 1511176 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/01-one-night-stand-camaro-580op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/01-one-night-stand-camaro-580op.jpg <![CDATA[First Drive: Ford Shelby GT500 Day 2 - Where do we sign?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/07/first-drive-ford-shelby-gt500-day-2-where-do-we-sign/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/07/first-drive-ford-shelby-gt500-day-2-where-do-we-sign/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/07/first-drive-ford-shelby-gt500-day-2-where-do-we-sign/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


2010 Ford Shelby GT500 - Click above for a high-res gallery

The first day of our Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 drive was spent on a variety of public roads, almost all of which the car handled with skill. The next day was spent at Infineon Raceway on three different courses: a low-speed figure-eight, the drag strip, and the track. It was here that the car sealed its credentials, going from capable hi-po steed to "How do you like me now?" The answer: We like you. We like you a lot. Follow the jump to find out why.


Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Ford Shelby GT500, Part 2


Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc

Continue reading First Drive: Ford Shelby GT500 Day 2 - Where do we sign?

First Drive: Ford Shelby GT500 Day 2 - Where do we sign? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20102010 ford mustang gt5002010 ford mustang gt500 driven2010 ford mustang gt500 review2010 ford mustang gt500 review first drive2010FordMustangGt5002010FordMustangGt500Driven2010FordMustangGt500Review2010FordMustangGt500ReviewFirstDrivedrivefeaturedfirst driveFirstDrivefordgt500mustangpricingTue, 07 Apr 2009 14:58:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1509914/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/04/07/first-drive-ford-shelby-gt500-day-2-where-do-we-sign/1509914/article-detail.xml 1509914 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/2010shelbygt500fdp2_01_580op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/04/2010shelbygt500fdp2_01_580op.jpg -1 2