Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Factory Five/<i>Grassroots Motorsports</i> WRX roadster design contest underway]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/04/factory-five-grassroots-motorsports-wrx-roadster-design-c/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/04/factory-five-grassroots-motorsports-wrx-roadster-design-c/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/04/factory-five-grassroots-motorsports-wrx-roadster-design-c/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Factory Five logoOfficial rules and deadlines for the Grassroots Motorsports/Factory Five design contest are in. The contest asks entrants to design the body of Factory Five's upcoming Subaru WRX-powered roadster.

The chassis for the car is almost through the development stage, so Factory Five is asking would-be designers to focus solely on the look and shape of the car, keeping within the specified 95-inch wheelbase dimensions.

Entries have to be submitted as either a JPG or PDF file to the company by June 1, 2011. The company will accept hand-drawn design ideas, but they have to be scanned and converted to one of the specified document formats. No old-fashioned pencil and paper designs will be accepted through snail mail.

To submit your designs, send them as attachments in an email to contest@grassrootsmotorsports.com. The overall winner of the competition will receive a $5,000 cash prize and the satisfaction of having their design rendered in fiberglass as the new Factory Five roadster.

The planned car itself is a mid-engined, WRX-powered roadster that Factory Five says can be ordered and completed for less than $15,000. Thank you to everyone for the tips!

[Source: Grassroots Motorsports]

Factory Five/Grassroots Motorsports WRX roadster design contest underway originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facory fivefactoryfivesubarusubaru wrxwrxFri, 04 Mar 2011 08:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19867496/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/03/04/factory-five-grassroots-motorsports-wrx-roadster-design-c/19867496/article-detail.xml 19867496 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/factory-five-logo_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/factory-five-logo.jpg <![CDATA[Five Alive! <i>Fifth Gear</i> reportedly set to return in April... with some changes]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/25/five-alive-fifth-gear-reportedly-set-to-return-in-april/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/25/five-alive-fifth-gear-reportedly-set-to-return-in-april/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/25/five-alive-fifth-gear-reportedly-set-to-return-in-april/#commentsFiled under: ,



Fans of British car shows take heart. Nope, we're not talking about Top Gear, but it's cross-town rival Fifth Gear. The Channel 5 car show that picked up after the original Top Gear was canceled was itself the victim of cutbacks recently. In the face of reduced viewership (compared to the five million who watch Top Gear regularly) and reduced ad revenue from belt-tightening automakers, network executives canceled the show back in October. By December, however, sources indicated that there was still a heartbeat and a glimmer of hope.

Now reports suggest that, following an outpouring of support, the network has agreed to keep Fifth Gear alive, albeit with some changes. The new Fifth Gear will apparently leave the studio permanently to focus directly on the test drives in a bid to lure hard-core enthusiasts disgruntled with Top Gear's decided emphasis on shenanigans. Two of the six presenters - Tom Ford and Tim Shaw - have also been dropped, leaving Vicki Butler-Henderson, Jonny Smith, Tiff Needell and Jason Plato to present the show.

With the revised format, Fifth Gear has reportedly been approved for two more seasons, with the first starting only a month away in late April, beating Top Gear's late-summer return to the punch. Apparently the Discovery network has been contracted to broadcast the show in other European markets outside the UK, so here's hoping we'll get the shows Stateside as well.

[Source: The Times of London via rpmgo.com]

Five Alive! Fifth Gear reportedly set to return in April... with some changes originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 Mar 2010 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5th gear5thGearchannel 5Channel5discoverydiscovery channelDiscoveryChannelfifth gearFifthGearfivejason platoJasonPlatojonny smithJonnySmithtiff needellTiffNeedelltim shawTimShawtom fordTomFordVicki Butler-HendersonVickiButler-hendersonThu, 25 Mar 2010 17:32:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19414243/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/03/25/five-alive-fifth-gear-reportedly-set-to-return-in-april/19414243/article-detail.xml 19414243 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/5thgear-newstaff-1269532658_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/5thgear-newstaff-1269532658.jpg <![CDATA[In the Autoblog Garage: 2007 Mercury Montego Premier]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/22/in-the-autoblog-garage-2007-mercury-montego-premier/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/22/in-the-autoblog-garage-2007-mercury-montego-premier/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/22/in-the-autoblog-garage-2007-mercury-montego-premier/#commentsFiled under: , ,

click above image for desktop-sized pics of the 2007 Mercury Montego

Alas, Montego, we hardly knew ye. Of course, the large sedan from Mercury is not going away, but being relaunched as the Sable with a new schnoz, larger engine, and some interior upgrades. The Montego name will once again drift off into obscurity like its Torino-based forebear. While the Sable picks up where the Montego left off, it would be foolish to think the Montego is a dud. The 2007 Montego Premier AWD is a big car, with some dimensions exceeding the Grand Marquis. With a bump here and a nip there, the Montego would make the best Marquis ever. As it is, the Volvo-donated architecture underneath the Montego makes it a very modern driving sedan that belies the comfort-sized dimensions.

Gallery: 2007 Mercury Montego Premier AWD

Continue reading In the Autoblog Garage: 2007 Mercury Montego Premier

In the Autoblog Garage: 2007 Mercury Montego Premier originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Mar 2007 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoblogfivefive hundredFiveHundredfordgaragehundredinmercurymontegoreviewroadroad testRoadTesttesttheThu, 22 Mar 2007 13:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/857079/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/03/22/in-the-autoblog-garage-2007-mercury-montego-premier/857079/article-detail.xml 857079 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/03/dsc_0012-edit_450_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/03/dsc_0012-edit_450.jpg <![CDATA[Toyota Tundra fails to score five stars in NHTSA frontal crash test]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/16/toyota-tundra-fails-to-score-five-stars-in-nhtsa-frontal-crash-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/16/toyota-tundra-fails-to-score-five-stars-in-nhtsa-frontal-crash-t/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/16/toyota-tundra-fails-to-score-five-stars-in-nhtsa-frontal-crash-t/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Toyota's not having an easy time with the Tundra so far. It's been criticized for lacking a fully-boxed frame, the internet is alight with Tundra-hate, and now along comes the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Both Regular and Double Cab variants of Toyota's intended domestic-fighter were crashed by the agency, and both only managed four stars.

While a four star crash test rating isn't horrible, the Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado / GMC Sierra and Dodge Ram all have the strength to ring the 5-star bell and win the stuffed bunny. The likelihood of injuries in a Tundra could be up to 10-percent greater than the domestic brands because of its one-star deficit. The difference could also be as small as one-percent, however, so this news may not be as significant as it sounds at first blush. All we can really say with certainty is that the Tundra performs worse when crashed into a concrete barrier at 35mph than its competition.

No doubt the Tundra's performance in this test will again focus scrutiny on the truck's frame, which is not fully boxed like its competition. According to Mike Levine from Pickuptruck.com, the Tundra's frame is split into three parts and the front piece actually is boxed. However, the frame under the cab and bed are C-channel, and they are also affected by a frontal crash. As Levine told us, the rest of the Tundra's competition now has some ammo to aim back at the Tundra in their marketing efforts.

We expect that acceptance of the brawny fullsizer from Toyota will take a little while, and it may not come until the current generation Tundra is dead and buried, but when Toyota wants something, they don't mess around. They were up front in expecting the Tundra to receive five stars and a Best Pick from the IIHS, so don't expect this 4-star rating to last long.

[Source: Pickuptruck.com]

Toyota Tundra fails to score five stars in NHTSA frontal crash test originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Mar 2007 23:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We've grown more accustomed to reporting production setbacks and launch delays, but in its never-ending quest to recreate themselves, Fiat is actually moving things ahead. Following rumors circulating around the European motoring press, Fiat chief Sergio Marchionne confirmed yesterday that they'll actually be moving the official launch of the highly-anticipated 500 up by a couple months. The new 500 was originally scheduled for launch in September, but with development progressing along smartly, Fiat is moving the launch date ahead to July, which will conveniently coincide with the 50th anniversary of the launch of the original 500.

[Sources: Italiaspeed and Euronews]

Continue reading 500: Fiat moves things up

500: Fiat moves things up originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Feb 2007 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>500centecinquoearlyfiatfivehundredjulylaunchseptemberTue, 20 Feb 2007 17:29:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/815335/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/02/20/500-fiat-moves-things-up/815335/article-detail.xml 815335 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/02/500range_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/02/500range.jpg <![CDATA[Should Audi develop a crate engine?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/05/should-audi-develop-a-crate-engine/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/05/should-audi-develop-a-crate-engine/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/05/should-audi-develop-a-crate-engine/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Crate engines are all over the place, as long as you're willing to limit yourself to American makes and V8s. As cool as an LSX-powered Audi would be, it would offend the sensibilities of some, though it'd be great in a "that's just not right" sort of way. What would be right, though, is a crate engine from Ingolstadt.

More pie-in-the-sky after the jump

[Source: Fourtitude.com]

Continue reading Should Audi develop a crate engine?

Should Audi develop a crate engine? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Jan 2007 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>55 cylinder5CylinderaftermarketAudienginefivemodificationquattroS2tunerturbour-quattroFri, 05 Jan 2007 09:28:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/728981/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/01/05/should-audi-develop-a-crate-engine/728981/article-detail.xml 728981 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/01/audi_motor2wh_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/01/audi_motor2wh.jpg -1 2