Autoblog

Nissan Juke-R goes ice fishing in Norway

Noah Joseph — Thu, 24 May 2012 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Videos, Crossover, Nissan

There's something about the boffins over at Nissan - particularly those working at its racing headquarters in the UK. We're not quite sure what it is. Oh, right: they're bonkers. Absolutely off their rockers, in the best way possible. How else would you explain the decision to take an entry-level crossover and swap out its powertrain for that of a supercar?

We're talking, of course, about the Juke-R, the 480-horsepower demon cockroach from hell. After racing it against a field of supercars in Dubai, Nissan has taken the Juke-R to a decidedly different setting - an ice track near the former Winter Olympics site in Lillehammer, Norway - and set it loose.

And if that wasn't quite enough, the Japanese automaker didn't put it in the hands of an veteran ice racer - say, the four-time Formula One World Champion who drives for its sister company in the Andros Trophy, they gave it over to its gamer-turned-racer Lucas Ordonez who, being from Spain, had never driven on ice before. Sounds sane to us. Scroll on down to see the results in the brief video clip.

Continue reading Nissan Juke-R goes ice fishing in Norway

Nissan Juke-R goes ice fishing in Norway originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 May 2012 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Who said the KTM X-Bow isn't good in snow?

Jeff Sabatini — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Videos

As we head towards the second half of February without having had a real winter here in the Midwest, we'll admit to being ticked off. Those Blizzaks we bought for our long-term Mini Countryman? We haven't had much chance to put them to use. Nor have we had any occasion to enjoy the singular pleasure of driving a massively overpowered sports car on an icy road, enjoying every fishtail, opposite-lock correction and powerslide, all while traveling under the legal speed limit, of course.

So what do we do to console ourselves? Watch videos on YouTube like this one, featuring the KTM X-Bow doing a little ice racing with an accompanying motorcycle/quad tandem. We love that this X-Bow's owner is out getting down and dirty in the cold - and that he's willing to pull his buddies on a tube behind his race car.

Click past the jump to watch the video.

Continue reading Who said the KTM X-Bow isn't good in snow?

Who said the KTM X-Bow isn't good in snow? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Ford Fiesta to include AppLink, voice-control Blackberry and Android apps [w/videos]

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Ford, Lincoln

Ford SYNC with AppLink - Click above for high-res image gallery

On our way to Stanford last week, we came across a murdered-out Toyota Prius with an "I♥OPEC" vanity plate. Prime Twitter fodder if we've ever seen it. Unfortunately, even with our smartphone streaming navigation directions and a podcast through the Ford Fusion's SYNC system, we couldn't safely tweet our find. Well, Ford's about to rectify that issue with the introduction of AppLink, a downloadable upgrade to the SYNC infotainment system that allows drivers to control their smartphone apps through voice commands.

AppLink will be exclusive to the 2011 Ford Fiesta when it hits dealers later this year and, at launch, it will only work with Blackberry and Android-powered devices running SYNC software. When it does arrive, the first three supported apps are Stitcher, Pandora (bye-bye XM/Sirius) and Orangatame's OpenBeak Twitter program. More apps are sure to be available in the following months and Ford has setup a developer channel on SYNCMyRide to get programmers going.

For those of you currently rolling in a SYNC-equipped Ford or Lincoln, AppLink will be available as a download sometime next year, and for all you Apple fanboys, fear not, iPhone integration is on the way. Make the jump for all the details and a brace of videos showing off the technology.

Gallery: Ford SYNC with AppLink

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading 2011 Ford Fiesta to include AppLink, voice-control Blackberry and Android apps [w/videos]

2011 Ford Fiesta to include AppLink, voice-control Blackberry and Android apps [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Second-ever iPad car installation keeps it simple, maintains factory tech

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Videos, Nissan

Second in-car iPad installation by SoundMan Car Audio - Click above to view video after the jump

The gang at SoundMan Car Audio was the first to install an Apple iPad into an automobile when they dropped one into the dash of a Toyota Tacoma pickup the very day the device was officially released. That install was pretty slick, but required a bit of customization to the dash and a relocation of the controls. Now that they've had more than a week to think about it, SoundMan has once again done a car install of the wündertablet, this time sticking it into the dash of a 2004 Nissan Maxima.

Follow the jump to see how the follow-up install went, but know that SoundMan has taken a remarkably different tack with this configuration, making a simple notched slot for the tablet to slip into, with a single plug leading to the existing audio system's aux jack. Slipping the iPad out of its holder reveals that the Max's stock navigation and back-up cam screen are still functioning in their original locations. Assuming glare isn't an issue, this install is very trick.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Second-ever iPad car installation keeps it simple, maintains factory tech

Video: Second-ever iPad car installation keeps it simple, maintains factory tech originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: World's first Apple iPad in-car installation looks pretty clean

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Truck, Technology, Videos, Toyota

World's first Apple iPad automotive installation - Click above to view video after the jump

You knew it wouldn't be long before somebody tried to install the new Apple iPad in their ride. Well, it's already happened, and the "somebody" in this case is Doug Bernards of SoundMan Car Audio in Santa Clarita, California. The team's ride of choice for what is claimed to be the world's first automotive iPad install is a Toyota Tacoma pickup. SoundMan decided to use a McIntosh amp for the build, naturally. The team was among the first to receive an iPad, and they got to work immediately. The video chronicling the installation is after the jump.

Besides the iPad, the system consists of an Audison Bit One processor, the McIntosh six-channel amplifier, an Onkyo ND-S1 and "a special iPod dock which allows the digital signal to be pulled from the iPad and distributed to the BitOne via optical output." As the blurb on the company's website puts it:

We chose to use the iPad as the only source for the vehicles entertainment system. The dock connector will plug into a cable that runs to a Onkyo ND-S1 which will send the digital signal from the iPad directly into an Audison Bit One. The Bit One will then act as the D/A converter, and will also process the audio signal. The Bit One also has a great controller for adjusting the volume and audio settings. The amplifier we chose is the McIntosh MCC406M. Stay tunned for the rest of the build. You'll be able to find all the pictures and videos on this page as they become available.

Follow the jump to follow the installation from unboxing the components to firing it up. While the screen looks enormous in the dash, it actually doesn't look out of place and at first glance, it almost appears factory installed. The placement of the controller is a bit of a tell, and the rounded edges of the iPad need a bezel perhaps, but job well done on job number one. The team still needs to fully wire it up, but the mockup is finished. Stay tuned for part two after the rest of the components arrive. Great tip, VJ!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: World's first Apple iPad in-car installation looks pretty clean

Video: World's first Apple iPad in-car installation looks pretty clean originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Apr 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 3 [w/video]

Tim Stevens — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Subaru

HITTING THE ICE

The time has come to do it for real. We've walked you through the various classes offered by the club we'll be racing with, and we've shown you what it's like to drive at speed on the ice, so there's nothing left but to do it in anger. In this installment of An Introduction to Ice Racing we'll hit the first event of the season, tell you how to get ready to race once you're on the ice, and dazzle you with plenty of in-car video from first event's three heats - including footage of a few unfortunate incidents that left fenders crumpled and tensions flared.

It's all below, so click on through and check out the action. We promise not to put a single dent in your monitor.

Gallery: Ice Racing at Caroga Lake, NY

Continue reading Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 3 [w/video]

Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 3 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 2

Tim Stevens — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports

THE WHAT AND THE HOW
It's time to delve a little further into the crazy, sideways world of ice racing - where grip is at a premium but the grins come cheap. In last week's first article in the series we gave you a little bit of information about the sport in general, or rather sports, and talked about the class structure used by AMEC, the club we'll be running with. We'll be participating in the street legal class with a 2002 Subaru WRX, a very early model purchased right after it finally hit American shores in 2001. It's mostly stock, but the club does have some required changes we'll cover here, and there are some other things you'll want to know before you show up on the ice.

What sorts of things? Well, one important thing is how to drive, or rather how to go quickly around a track of ice without getting yourself high-sided on a snowbank or bumper-locked with a competitor. So, we'll give you an overview of driving technique too, including a little demonstration video that'll give you your first taste of driving at-speed on-ice in a car with no studs. Click on through and join the fun.

Gallery: Ice racing preparation

Continue reading Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 2

Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 2 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 1

Tim Stevens — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:56:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Subaru

"You race on what now?" This is the typical response given when the topic of ice racing comes up. People can't seem to get their head around the idea that you, a sane human being with as strong a survival instinct as the next guy/gal, would drive a car out onto a frozen lake at speeds upwards of 100mph - often sideways. Mention that the racing action is wheel-to-wheel against dozens of competitors at once and you're almost guaranteed to be labeled clinically insane.

Ice racers may be a little special but most are not insane, and if you live in parts of the world that get cold enough, you can join in their fun for a pittance. Ice racing is, dollars to seat time, one of the cheapest forms of motorsport out there. It's also one of the most thrilling and, for those of us who find ourselves driving in frequently inclement conditions, it's even a genuinely useful exercise. Sure, autocrossing is cheap, safe and educational, but where cone-dodging helps you find your car's limits, ice racing teaches you to drive far beyond them, to stay in control (or close to it) when by all rights you should be spinning wildly into a snowbank.

Just like we did last summer with karting, we're going to take you along for the ride and let you get a taste for ice racing. Naturally there will be some changes: instead of a racing suit we'll be investing in a set of thermals, and rather than sticky slicks we'll be budgeting for heavily siped snow tires. It's a whole different ball game, managing slip instead of grip, but the thrills are just as great. And, since you can compete with just about any car, it's open to almost anyone who has a need for speed -- and who doesn't mind spending the day hanging around on a frozen lake.

Gallery: Ice racing variety

Continue reading Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 1

Introduction to Ice Racing: Part 1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Unintended Consequence of Technology: New LED traffic lights can't melt snow

Michael Harley — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:31:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Technology

Traffic lights using state-of-the-art LED illumination use 90 percent less electricity, offer a much longer service life and are more durable than their incandescent counterparts. Taking advantage of the countless benefits, cities around the country have been replacing traditional filament-based traffic signal bulbs with LEDs for years. Unfortunately, the low-watt LED units burn much cooler than its white-hot counterpart making it unable to melt snow off weather exposed traffic fixtures.

"I've never had to put up with this in the past," said Duane Kassens, a driver from Indiana who was involved in an accident attributed to a snow-clogged traffic light. "The police officer told me the new lights weren't melting the snow. How is that safe?" It obviously isn't.

Municipalities around the country are taking different steps to keep their signals shining brightly in the face of Mother Nature. Crews in St. Paul, Minnesota, use compressed air to keep their lights clean. In Green Bay, Wisconsin, city workers brush the snow off by hand in a labor-intensive process. Until a fix arrives, it is best to take the advice of Dave Hansen, a traffic engineer with the Green Bay Department of Public Works. Treat a blocked signal as if the power is out. "If there's any question, you err on the side of caution," says Hansen.

[Source: AOL Autos | Image: Oswego Police]

Unintended Consequence of Technology: New LED traffic lights can't melt snow originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: U.S. customs agents seize a very familiar gray-market Cizeta V16t

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 09:59:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Government/Legal

1994 Cizeta V16t

Whenever we've mentioned the Cizeta V16t supercar here on the pages of Autoblog in the past, we have always received mixed reactions. With its love-it-or-hate-it, Diablo-prototype looks and its unique transverse V16 engine, the car was a stunning achievement by former Lamborghini engineer, Claudio Zampoli. It was his vision, his engineering and his design work that made this project come to fruition. It was also his initials, C.Z., or "Ci Zeta" in Italian, that led to the vehicle's name. While only ten of the cars were ever built, they have attained a certain cult-like following among some enthusiasts.

Although often misidentified as a Cizeta Moroder, the correct name does not include the name of music composer Giorgio Moroder, who was an early investor that dropped out in the planning stages. The 560-horsepower, V16 beast was said to be good for well over 200 MPH in its day, and for anyone who has seen or heard it in person, it's not hard to believe. We consider ourselves very lucky indeed to have spent some time in one of these Veyron-preceding 16-cylinder marvels. The red one you see above is so familiar to all of us in the SoCal car community that we sometimes forget just how exotic it really is. We've seen it at numerous events around Southern California and have gotten to know Mr. Zampoli as well.

Imagine our shock, then, to hear that the very Cizeta we know best has been seized by Federal authorities. According to news reports, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has seized the car, alleging that Zampoli violated U.S. customs and environmental laws when he brought the car into the country in 2001. One issue was the price claimed for the vehicle when it was brought over, which at $125,000 was approximately one fourth of its price when new.

The other issue is the fact that the car was never certified by U.S. agencies for emissions and safety regulations. It is not uncommon for such small manufacturers to skip U.S. importation because of the cost involved in crash testing these expensive autos. Some are granted exemptions using the government's Show or Display rules, and others are sometimes imported as museum pieces that are never registered for road use.

We know that there will be a lot more to this story as it unfolds. For one thing, we know that Mr. Zampoli moved his operations to the U.S. several years ago. We also believe that this particular vehicle never belonged to him. It was allegedly shipped over for updates and repairs by its Austrian owner in 2001 and was supposed to be shipped back by 2004 after receiving an extension on its stay. For one reason or another, the owner never had it shipped back. It has always worn European tags and a manufacturer plate when out and about.

While the official ICE statement that alludes to these cars being "a real threat to public health and safety" is laughable in many ways, the fact remains that the Cizeta was never certified for sale in the States and due to its extremely limited production, it probably never received an exemption for Show or Display. For now, the authorities are trying to have the car forfeited to the federal government, with the intent to have it auctioned to an overseas buyer eventually. We'll be sure to keep you posted. Thanks for the tips, everyone.

[Source: The Orange County Register]

REPORT: U.S. customs agents seize a very familiar gray-market Cizeta V16t originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Bugatti Veyron yields world's priciest roostertails

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Supercars, Bugatti

Click above to watch three videos of the Bugatti Icecapades after the jump

Adding a supercar to your collection is cool. Getting your supercar out on the streets, in traffic, is even better. Taking your Bugatti Veryon to a snow track and getting it sideways for the cameras... well, that's the bees knees. Someone in Sweden - with a "16-4EB67" plate, no less - has done just that. And we like it. Whoever you are driving this car, we nominate you for cool pants. There are three vids; parts one and three are the appetizer and dessert. About a minute into part two is when the show begins. But enough talking - check them all out after the jump. Hat tip: Mike231s/c

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Bugatti Veyron yields world's priciest roostertails

VIDEO: Bugatti Veyron yields world's priciest roostertails originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Attended: Bridgestone Winter Driving School

Michael Harley — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:25:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Toyota

The 2-ton SUV is sliding completely off its intended course. The steering wheel is at full opposite lock, yet uncontrolled oversteer flips the rear end of the Toyota 4Runner around like a cat with its tail on fire. In one last-ditch attempt to halt the pendulum process, I stab the throttle. All four tires desperately claw at the frozen surface, but it is too late to really help. The grip the four small contact patches manage to find simply drives me directly into the thick snow bank on the side of the road. The truck immediately comes to a stop and I sit there stupefied shaking my head with embarrassment. Over the radio, my instructor tells me to back up and try it all over again. No harm done, as the "crash" is all part of the learning process at the Bridgestone Winter Driving School. Follow the jump to read all about our full-day experience in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

Gallery: Bridgestone Winter Driving School

Continue reading Attended: Bridgestone Winter Driving School

Attended: Bridgestone Winter Driving School originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Good riddance: The demise of the in-dash CD player is nigh

Dan Roth — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 10:53:00 EST

Filed under: Gadgets, Trends, Etc., I.C.E., Technology

A few short years ago, getting a CD player or better yet, a multidisc changer in your car was an upgrade. Now, the little silver disc has taken up residence with cassettes as cast-off technology. Even with the cheap digital to analog converters that are in car stereos, CDs have a sound advantage over lossy data codecs like MPEG, but only us geeks seem to care that hi-hats sound like someone whisking an egg. Besides, portability and flexibility easily trumps esoteric sound quality. Truth be told, even though the original CDs sound better, my mp3 player is so much more convenient that I'll be adding an auxiliary input to my factory stereo - no small feat on some cars.

Ward's Automotive Interior show, currently underway at the Cobo center, is allowing automakers to show their wares to the masses over the next few days, with the realization that future vehicles are bound to dispatch that awkward center control unit for something more intuitive and user-programmable. Several automakers have already realized that people have all sorts of portable devices, and as such, new car interiors bristle with input jacks and 12-volt power sockets.

[Source: Detroit News]

Continue reading Good riddance: The demise of the in-dash CD player is nigh

Good riddance: The demise of the in-dash CD player is nigh originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 08 Jun 2007 10:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Slacker brings internet radio into your car

Dan Roth — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 11:05:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, I.C.E., Technology

It's like Pandora for your car! Slacker, a new web-based radio website has just launched this week. The channel selection is very similar to what's available on XM or Sirius, and we liken it to Pandora because the number of songs you can skip is limited, but the selection is large and the experience is flexible and customizeable. The website alone is a nice little diversion anywhere you've got a browser and bandwidth, but the exciting news is that there will soon be an iPod-like device so you can take your Slacker with you. That means never having to listen to the angry guy talk channel while stuck in a traffic jam again. It's also better than the four-song playlists each FM genre now spins, too. The portable device will store songs, and later this year Slacker will be unveiling a car dock that will be able to receive music from satellite signals.

Pulling down music from the birds is the same trick that Sirius and XM manage, but they cost money. Slacker is free once you purchase the hardware. How is that possible? Why, the very same way broadcast television and radio are free: advertising. If you're willing to sit through some ads, you get free music. In fact, the music is merely there to keep you interested enough that you'll continue to listen through the spots - of course, many of us are obsessive channel flippers (or worse yet, NPR junkies). You can have your Slacking and no commercials, too. For about half the price of Sirius, your $7.50 per month will keep the music rolling in and offer you unlimited skips and no ads. The price is so much lower because Slacker doesn't have big loans for satellites to pay off. The quality is in the MP3 realm, and sounds decent, which is encouraging. Some of us with finely tuned ears have a hard time listening to SatRad because of the digital compression artifacts. We'll see what happens if Slacker is able to popularize it's offerings, and deliver on the promise they're dangling tantalizingly in front of our noses.

[Source: Kicking Tires]

Slacker brings internet radio into your car originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Mar 2007 11:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Renault keyless entry keeps you from freezing your nuts off

Noah Joseph — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 11:03:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Marketing/Advertising, Technology, Videos, Renault

Anyone who's lived in a cold climate can appreciate not having to take out a key when the thermometer drops below freezing. Keyless entry is good, but a keycard that stays in your pocket is even better, as demonstrated in this commercial from Renault, which makes the argument painfully obvious.

Follow the jump to learn a good lesson about keeping all extremities covered in those cold winter climes.

[Source: Winding Road]

Continue reading VIDEO: Renault keyless entry keeps you from freezing your nuts off

VIDEO: Renault keyless entry keeps you from freezing your nuts off originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Mar 2007 11:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bentley: Driving in a Winter Wonderland

Noah Joseph — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 17:04:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Europe, Bentley

A 550-horsepower Bentley? A winter vacation in Finland? Sounds like the perfect combination, and the boys at Bentley have got it hooked up with the Bentley Ice Driving Experience.

Plenty of upscale marques offer advanced driving courses to show you how to get the most out of your shiny new toy, but Bentley's program blows snow right in their faces. Professional instructors put participants behind the wheel of an all-wheel-drive Continental GT coupe and "take you and the car to the limit and safely back again" on frozen lakes. They'll also throw in some snowmobiling in the snow-blanketed Finnish countryside. After an experience like that, we'd bet black ice and unplowed highways will seem like child's play Check out the details at BentleyMotors.com

[Source: 4DriversOnly via German Car Blog]

Bentley: Driving in a Winter Wonderland originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Jan 2007 17:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Volvo driving school teaches police how to handle ice

Dan Roth — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 14:05:00 EST

Filed under: Wagon, Europe, Videos, Volvo

In today's afternoon dose of moving pictures, we peek in on police from Britain at the Volvo Academy for special training on a frozen lake. These kinds of shenanigans are the same sorts of things we do in parking lots come the first snowfall. It's especially important for public safety officials to know the limits of their vehicles and how the safety systems act, however, and that's what the Volvo Academy aims to send them off with. To us, it looks like a fun way to learn how to drive in low traction conditions. We'll be out there doing our own version of this as soon as we can!

Check out the video after the jump.

[Source: TheAutoChannel.com]

Continue reading VIDEO: Volvo driving school teaches police how to handle ice

VIDEO: Volvo driving school teaches police how to handle ice originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Dec 2006 14:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Die, Die, Die! - Things that should be euthanized in 2007

Dan Roth — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 17:33:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Etc.

(Ed. - The views expressed in this post are those of Dan Roth and not Autoblog in general. Dan asked if he could channel the grumpy old man inside of him, and for better or worse, we took off his leash.)

Our morning commute often gives us time to contemplate our navels, as the traffic engineers haven't spent enough time with TrafficSim around here. When the radio gets too boring, it's always interesting to analyze the vehicles around us. Here's some stuff we think is gangrenous, and some is just crap.

Toyota Camry Solara
Please go away. You're ugly. Yes, yes, you're a Camry, rah rah. You're ugly. Especially the convertible. Please just give us a two-door version of your only mildly less ugly Camry sedan sibling, if you must.

Big cars that were once small
The Civic was once a small car, now it's almost as big as Accords once were. The Nissan Versa and Dodge Caliber are similarly not-too-small cars being marketed on the pretense of being compact. The Fit is a step in the right direction, and we realize that all the required safety gear makes light cars largely a thing of the past, but the efficiency-lovers among us can't square the fact that these cars were once small and efficient, and now they're larger and less efficient.

Follow the jump for more items on the hit list.

Continue reading Die, Die, Die! - Things that should be euthanized in 2007

Die, Die, Die! - Things that should be euthanized in 2007 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Dec 2006 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Screw you: Screw-propulsion vehicle coveted by Autoblog

Dan Roth — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Technology

Oh, the puns for this are absolutely endless! If you're late:"Let's put the screws to it and make up some time." If you're early: "Looks like we have a few minutes to screw around in the parking lot." Like we said -- endless source of amusement. When people get tired of your jokes and tell you to go screw off, this is definitely the vehicle you want to take. Starting life as a Bombardier snow groomer, the likes of which us downhill skiiers have to sometimes dodge, a team of British ~~nutcases~~ thrill seekers really tricked the machine out for it's treacherous journey. They added a screw propulsion system to help drive on snow without getting high-centered, as well as adding propulsion when floating on water. The journey of Snowbird 6, as the ultimate all-terrain vehicle is known, is chronicled at Icechallenger.com. Seems like an awful lot of effort to go roughly 56 miles, but it's cool as hell, just like the moon landing.

[Source: Icechallenger.com via PatentPendingBlog]

Screw you: Screw-propulsion vehicle coveted by Autoblog originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 06 Dec 2006 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Winter approaches. Imprezas wait impatiently...

Alex Nunez — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 15:28:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Subaru

When I was in high school, my Dad had a mid-80s Subaru GL 3-door hatch with 4WD. The thing looked like a little silver dune buggy and I loved it, but sadly, he got rid of it before I wound up getting my license. The wee GL was a bit too small for his taste, you see, so he upgraded to a brand-new, fire-engine-red '88 GL wagon (non-turbo, automatic with the push-button 4WD on the shifter). I used to eagerly await the snowy weather so that the Subie and I could frolic around the corners in my neighborhood. It was no high-speed machine, but it was a hell of a lot of fun and the thing seemed to adore snow, slush and other such winter slop.

Nowadays, the bar has been raised substantially, with turbocharged Imprezas dishing out power roughly equal to that of a Mustang GT from the time of Dad's wagon. One thing that hasn't changed, however, is the Subarus' apparent love of the white stuff, as is demonstrated in the video above. Snow, frozen lakes, studded rubber, and Imprezas running amok -- you Subie-driving readers must sit at the window waiting for gray skies the way kids wait for Santa on Christmas Eve. Enjoy.

Thanks to Matt for the link!

[Source: YouTube]

VIDEO: Winter approaches. Imprezas wait impatiently... originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Nov 2006 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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