Autoblog

With things like cheap gas and the value of a dollar slowly being taken from us, it's good to see that somebody wants to give us something. For the US release of the Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, Polyphony has thrown in features the Japanese version didn't get.

There's a drift mode that judges drivers on three parameters, there's two-player, split-screen racing and there are new events and challenges for racers online and offline that can support up to 16 racers simultaneously. Plus, there's a new track, bringing the total to six. And for us, that means there's a new list of excuses we're going to need to come up with when people start asking "Where have you been?" and "You look tired -- were you up late last night?"

In case the cars, tracks and gameplay aren't enough, Winding Road has a new trailer video of the GT5 Prologue featuring a fair bit of Ferrari action -- and that's never a bad way to start the week. Follow the jump to see the complete list of tracks, and check out our updated hi-res photo gallery of the prologue below.


[Source: PS3 Fanboy]

After enduring a long and arduous week of never-ending KITT coverage, it's time to turn our focus to something that has the distinct possibility of not sucking – The Dark Knight. Batman Begins proved that comic book-based movies can actually be entertaining, not causing excessive eye-rolling and extraneous cringing. Plus, it didn't hurt that our female friends could sit through the flick and enjoy the machismo provided by Christian Bale.

Over the weekend, a few shoddy videos of the full, two-minute trailer for The Dark Knight began to surface, so Warner Bros. decided to release the trailer in downloadable form for the masses. Naturally, we've got it up and hosted on YouTube and you can check it out in full after the jump.

Needless to say, it looks damn good. Heath Ledger's Joker will give Nicholson a run for his money, the man in black gets a new two-wheeled conveyance and who can deny burnouts in the Tumbler? Batman returns in the summer of '08, but you can get your fix by clicking here.

In addition to hosting the world's most popular car show, authoring a library of books and writing regular columns for a variety of magazines and newspapers, celebrity automotive journalist Jeremy Clarkson has turned out a tall stack of DVD specials.

The video after the jump is a trailer of his latest video, called Supercar Showdown. In the new special, scheduled for a November 5 release, Clarkson takes to the road and the track in some of the most mouth-watering and earth-shattering supercars, including the Ferrari 430 Spider and 599 GTB Fiorano, Lamborghini Gallardo and Murcielago Roadsters, Bugatti Veyron, Audi R8, Porsche 911 GT3, Radical SR3, Aston Martin V8 Roadster and Ascari A10. Sabine Schmitz and The Stig also feature in a head-to-head in what looks to be a jaw-dropping orgy of Octane.

Click through to catch a sneak preview.

Kudos to Mike for the tip.

[Source: YouTube]

If you're starting to get the feeling that you may see the entire Transformers movie if you just sit down to watch all the trailers and scenes, we're with you and we're not complaining. We've been peppering you with any clip from the upcoming movie that we can find, this time we're bringing you a quick glimpse of the 2009 Camaro, followed by part of an epic battle between Optimus Prime and Bone Crusher.

Transformers is now officially only one month away, but we've been psyched for this movie for months. From the clips we've seen so far, Michael Bay's imagination is way cooler than the stuff that we came up with in our back yard. If you're a fan of the movie like we are, Mr. Bay's website has lots of good info, so check it out. And you can watch the newest clip after the jump.

[Source: michaelbay.com]

Michael Bay is ramping up his marketing machine for his celluloid opus, Transformers, which we all know debuts in theaters on July 4th. In addition to the theatrical trailer already released, Bay just debuted two more trailers for television that have already begun airing betwixt your favorite TV dramas in primetime. The one above is called Declare, and the one after the jump is called Vibration. Each offers a few snippets of footage we haven't seen yet. And let us tell ya, nothing gets us going like ex-model Tyrese Gibson screaming "Bring it!" to a bunch of Decepticons. July 4th can't come soon enough.

[Source: MichaelBay.com]

In what appears to be way of addressing the lack of trunk space in the new Smart fortwo, DCX has released a few sketches showing the Smart accessorized to appeal to that overly-pursued active lifestyle consumer.

The three drawings (two of which are posted after the jump) include the above boat trailer, a motorcycle hauler and a traveling living space; complete with sink, stove, storage and bed.

While all are intriguing, Smart doesn't intend to build these trailers anytime soon. We certainly like the idea, but are a bit worried about getting stuck behind one on our way up to Tahoe.

[Source: TCC]

Gearheads the world over (England particularly) have been eagerly anticipating the upcoming ninth season of Top Gear, the BBC's crown jewel of an automotive magazine show. All the more so following the drama of co-host Richard Hammond's terrifying crash and miraculous recovery, the details of which we followed closely as they developed.

Thanks to Arvin, one of our intrepid readers, we're glad to bring you this brief nineteen-second clip previewing the upcoming season of Top Gear. Nineteen seconds isn't very much, but from this brief clip we can see a few antics the crew is up to: the Porsche 911, remote-control airplanes, Jaguar XKR vs. Aston Martin V8 Vantage, street-paving machines, trying to drive an old pick-up truck, chopping a Fiat in two, driving the Bugatti Veyron at speed, and testing the new Lotus Europa.

This is only a teaser, and we're willing to bet our favorite of friends across the pond have got a great season lined up for us. Shame we don't get the BBC over here in America, but on the internet, "the will" is seldom separated from "the way" for very long.

We auto enthusiasts have an obsession with the upcoming Michael Bay bonanza that is Transformers, the live action film. The first trailer for the movie that opens in July didn't show much, in fact all we got was the sillouhette of a Decepticon on the planet Mars about to snuff out the life of a poor Exploration Rover. The new second trailer has just arrived, however, and does a much better job of delivering on the goods. While not revealing too much from the film, Bay allows us to see what amount to more than passing glances of not only Bumblebee while he's in Saleen Camaro mode and transformed, but also the big man himself, Optimus Prime. A little bit of fair warning, if you're eager to see this movie you can kiss an afternoon of productivity goodbye. We're on replay No. 7 and counting.

[Source: Yahoo.uk via GM Inside News]

The headline of Chrysler's press release pretty much says it: "Chrysler's First SUV is Industry's First Full-Size SUV With Trailer Sway Control." Many automakers have loaded up their SUVs with ways to make hauling trailers easier and safer, like General Motors' Quadra-Steer technology (which unfortunately went by the wayside starting with the 2006 model year), but Chrysler claims that this innovation is the first of its kind.

Like Electronic Stability Control, sensors monitor a driver's intended path and compare that with what the vehicle is actually doing. When the trailer following the vehicle starts to sway, the sensors gauge whether the sway is as a result of the driver's intended steering input, and if not, engages the opposing front brake to counteract the sway. When the sway continues on the other side of the vehicle, the other front brake is applied, eventually eliminating the problem.

The Aspen hit the floor of the North American International Auto Show earlier this year with mixed reviews -- many critics thought the beast was ugly and represented a bad move for Chrysler as SUV sales tanked thanks to high gas prices. Chrysler dealers were clamoring for an SUV, however, and the sharp interior, distinctive Chrysler styling (complete with Crossfire-esque ridges on the hood) and high level of utility may go a long way in giving Chrysler the edge it needs to make a profit comeback for the second half of the year.

Trailer Sway Control will also be extended to the Aspen's stable mate, the 2007 Dodge Durango.

[Source: Chrysler]

What you see here sprouted from the imagination of Dutch artist Kevin van Braak. It's a towable trailer that when opened reveals an elevated grassy park with wild flowers and a fire pit. Why on earth would anyone create this trailer park? Well, van Braak is one of those artsy types, and Inhabitat.com claims that he "aims to address cultural issues such as individuality vs. community, and the role of religion and ritual in group experience." That's cool and all, but we're thinking two of these in the parking lot of Cleveland Browns Stadium on any given Sunday would make for a great game of lawn darts.

(Follow the jump for more pics of Kevin van Braak's creation)

[Source: Inhabitat.com]