Video: First DLC for Grid 2 called Super Modified Pack, out now

As it turns out, Grid 2 seems like a very pleasant diversion, at least until we get our hands on the can't-get-here-fast-enough Gran Turismo 6. And yet, the fast-paced Codemasters title might be considered slightly poor in terms of out-and-out racing machines.

Thankfully, the G2 gang has realized the error of its ways, and is already offering up a four-pack of racecars by way of some smoking hot DLC. The Super Modified Pack affords gamers access to a 890-horsepower R32 Skyline GT-R, a hot-rodded Honda Civic Super Modified (catchy name, there), and high-output versions of a Mazda RX-7 and a Subaru Impreza WRX STI. The lot of four isn't cheap, however, with a sticker price of $5.99 on Playstation 3 or 480 Microsoft Points ($6.00) on Xbox 360.

You can find a bit more info on each of the cars in the pack in the press release below (boring...), scroll on to watch a video of the group (much more exciting), or simply log on and spend that money to get the goodies yourself.


GRID 2â„¢ SUPER MODIFIED PACK AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD TODAY

Four Stunning New GRID 2 Cars Attack Brands Hatch in New Video,
Now Playing at www.youtube.com/gridgame

Los Angeles â€" June 25, 2013 â€" Today Codemasters® announced that the Super Modified Pack, new downloadable content for GRID 2â„¢, will be available today for the Xbox 360® games and entertainment system from Microsoft for 480 Microsoft Points on the Xbox Live® online entertainment network from Microsoft and Windows PC for $5.99 from Steam and tomorrow for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system for $5.99.

To mark the news, Codemasters has released a new video showing cars from the Super Modified Pack in action at the world famous Brands Hatch circuit. The trailer features the cars competing in the game's Time Attack mode and is now playing at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfEe-Gj1GI8.

The Super Modified Pack includes four rare editions of cars available to race in GRID 2's single player, split-screen and multiplayer modes. Each new vehicle has been modified to squeeze every last ounce of performance out of the car by some of the world's leading tuning specialists to compete in time attack events, and deliver a unique racing experience across GRID 2's game modes.

The Super Modified Pack includes:

· Auto Gallery Nissan Skyline GT-R (R32) â€" this iconic edition of the Skyline develops a huge 890hp at 8100 RPM from its 2.8 liter turbo-charged engine.

· Tomei Cusco Subaru Impreza WRX STI â€" the industry leading Aerodynamics kit from Voltex combines with a 4WD system to deliver huge amounts of grip and precision.

· Mazda RX-7 PANSPEED â€" this record breaking car's new engine is positioned deep inside the bay for a low center of mass and perfect weight distribution.

· 5ZIGEN Honda Civic Super Modified â€" this lightening quick front-engine, front-wheel-drive racer is the ultimate turbo-charged example of the classic Honda Civic.

Since GRID 2's launch, players have completed over 50 million overtakes, entered nearly 19 Million events and travelled 150 million miles â€" enough to travel around the world 6,000 times or travel to Mars! RaceNet â€" the free online community hub for Codemasters Racing games â€" allows players to track personal, community and friends' GRID 2 stats and is the beating heart of the game's extensive multiplayer component, serving up new challenges and objectives every week. Players who activate a RaceNet account are able to check their progress away from the game on desktop, mobile and via soon-to-launch dedicated apps. Visit www.racenet.com for more.

GRID 2 is the long-awaited sequel to the BAFTA-award winning, critically acclaimed GRIDâ„¢, which challenges players to be fast, be first and be famous. Players must perform on licensed circuits, open-roads and city streets to become the rising star of World Series Racing, a new globe-trotting racing league which brings together the greatest cars, drivers and events in the search for a new motorsport icon. Expanding the game is an extensive multiplayer component, powered by RaceNet, which offers players new Rivals and challenges to complete every week.

GRID 2 is available now for the Xbox 360® games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Windows® PC. Fans can keep up with all the latest updates straight from the studio by speeding over to www.gridgame.com and www.facebook.com/gridgame or follow the team at www.twitter.com/gridgame.

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Auctions: James Bond Lotus Esprit submarine car headed to auction [w/video]

We've covered many cars from the movies and TV that have made their way to auction (the original Batmobile, good old General Lee and even Bond's iconic Aston Martin DB5), but this one ranks up there among the rarest and coolest. RM Auctions has just announced that the Lotus Esprit submarine car used in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me has been added to the docket for its upcoming auction in London, September 8-9.

Of course, there are dozens of Bond cars floating around out there in collections, but none as unique as this Lotus, which ended a chase scene in the movie by taking a long walk off a short pier and transforming itself into a submersible. Since CGI was a meaningless collection of letters back then, the producers of the film actually built a fully functional Lotus Esprit submarine for the shoot. They hired Perry Oceangraphic in Florida to turn one of their six Esprit body shells into a fully functioning submarine, and former US Navy Seal Don Griffin was tapped for piloting duties. RM Auctions claims the Esprit submarine cost over $100,000 to build at the time, which is about $400,000 in today's dollars.

The submarine car comes with a incredible story, too. After filming in the '70s, it was shipped to Long Island, NY where it was kept in a storage unit that was paid in advance for ten years. When the storage contract ended in 1989 and no one claimed the contents, they were sold off in a blind auction to an area couple who had no idea what they were getting. The car has been shown occasionally in the years since, but its value remained purely speculative, until now. To date, the most valuable Bond car we know of is the original Aston Martin DB5 used in Goldfinger and Thunderball that sold for $4.6 million in 2010, but when the gavel falls at RM Auctions' London sale in September, we'll find out if the car nicknamed "Wet Nellie" on set can beat it.

Check out the car in its current condition in the gallery above, and scroll down to watch the underwater scene that made it famous.

BOND CAR SURFACES! ICONIC 007 LOTUS ESPRIT 'SUBMARINE' CAR TO GO UNDER THE HAMMER AT RM'S FORTHCOMING LONDON SALE

- RM Auctions lifts the gavel on the one and only functional submarine car, used in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me, at its eagerly awaited central London sale, 8â€"9 September
- Fully functioning submarine car was designed and fitted to propel underwater
- The actual car seen, on screen, driving underwater; one of the most famous movie cars of all time
- Never before offered for sale
- Amazing story of 'lost and found'

LONDON (at a top secret location) 28 June, 2013 â€" "Pay attention, 007, RM Auctions is about to sell one of my most ingenious creations and we wouldn't want it to fall into enemy hands". Well, 'Q' might be a little concerned that his incredible Lotus Esprit Series 1 'Submarine' Car is due to be sold at auction, but for millions of movie fans out there, the appearance of this iconic Bond car on the open market represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

No Bond car has ever done anything as outrageous as transform itself into a submarine. Used to incredible effect in the film The Spy Who Loved Me, starring Roger Moore, the white Lotus commonly tops the polls when generations of movie fans are asked to vote on their favourite film cars of all time. Like all the best Bond cars, the Lotus was a veritable war chest of weaponry and gadgetry, all designed to fox and foil the enemy, whilst also helping Bond to another hard-won victory for Queen and country.

The vehicle to be offered by RM Auctions at its forthcoming London sale, 8-9 September, in Battersea Park, is the one and only fully functioning car especially designed and built for the famous underwater sequence seen on screen in the 1977 film. Abundantly authenticated, and known as 'Wet Nellie' on the set, it was developed from one of six Esprit body shells used in the making of the film. As the only car to be built into a fully operational, self-propelled 'submarine', by Perry Oceanographic, based in Riviera Beach, Florida, it is the vehicle which claimed the most screen time in the film. The driver of the car was Don Griffin, a retired U.S. Navy SEAL and test pilot for Perry, who operated the vehicle utilizing its motorized propellers while manoeuvring with levered steering mechanisms. At the time, the car was said to have cost over $100,000 to create (equivalent to nearly a half million dollars today).

Subsequent to filming the underwater scenes in the Bahamas, the vehicle was shipped to Long Island, NY, where it was kept in an unassuming storage unit on a ten year rental, paid in advance. Fate later intervened when, in 1989, the then rent delinquent unit was put up 'blind' for public auction. A modest winning bid from an area couple brought surprise and wonder when the blankets were removed to reveal the iconic 007 'Submarine' Car. After positive authentication, the Lotus was shown occasionally â€" including a stint at the Petersen Automotive Museum â€" but mostly kept closely under wraps, until now.

Max Girardo, Managing Director, RM Auctions, Europe, says: "We have a great track record in selling incredible and iconic movie cars, and this particular Lotus is certainly up there amongst the most famous cars of all time. Over the years, millions of moviegoers have stared in awe as the Lotus transformed itself into a submarine, and now, perhaps one of them will have an opportunity to own it. Her Majesty's Secret Service aside, it surely is the ultimate beach accessory"!

RM Auctions sold "the most famous car in the world", the Aston Martin DB5 used by Sean Connery in the enormously popular Goldfinger and Thunderball movies, for an incredible £2.9 million during its 2010 London sale.

For further information on RM Auctions' forthcoming London sale, or to view a frequently updated list of entries, visit rmauctions.com or contact RM's London office at +44 (0) 20 7851 7070.

About RM Auctions

RM Auctions is the world's largest auction house for investment-quality automobiles. With over three decades of experience in the collector car industry, RM's vertically integrated range of services, from restoration to private treaty sales, auctions, estate planning, and financial services, coupled with an expert team of car specialists and an international footprint, provide an unsurpassed level of service to the global collector car market. RM proudly holds five of the top ten all-time records for the most expensive motor cars sold at auction. RM's restoration division has achieved unprecedented accolades, earning Best of Show honours at the world's top concours events. For further information, please visit rmauctions.com, find us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter @rmauctions.

Media Information

If you are interested in attending RM's London auction as a member of the media, please visit www.rmauctions.com/credentials to register for media credentials. For further information, hi-res images, and interview opportunities, please contact

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Motorsports: 2013 Pikes Peak Hill Climb, Practice Day 3

2013 Pikes Peak Hill Climb

The third practice day of the 91st Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is done. While the other classes got running time on the middle and top sections of the course, qualifying times were set on the bottom section of the course for the Open, Open Wheel, Electric, Exhibition and Vintage classes.

Everyone managed to keep it on the black stuff today, Greg Tracy setting the fastest time ahead of Hiroshi Masuoka, both men driving the Mitsubishi MiEV Evolution II four-wheel-drive prototype. Not even half a second behind Masuoka came Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima in his Monster Sport E-Runner, who has taken about 18 seconds off his time since the first practice day. Rod Millen was the fourth fastest on the day in his Toyota TMG EV POO2.

Topping the Open Wheel class was Clint Vahsholtz, followed by Donner Billingsley, Andy Figueroa and Rodney O'Maley. The only driver in that class not to be given a time today was Dan Novembre. Kenshiro Gushi took the Exhibition class today as his Lexus IS F CCS-R made it up the mountain in 4:27.248, followed by Sage Marie in the Honda CR-Z at 5:19.591. Simon Pagenaud and his Honda Odyssey weren't classified.

Layne Schranz nabbed the top time for Pikes Peak Open runners in his 1999 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, Randy Schranz behind him in his Shelby Cobra, Jeff MacPherson right behind in his Porsche 914-8. The old-timers in the Vintage division were lead by Christopher Lennon in a 1973 Porsche 911 RSR, Ralf Christensson two seconds behind him in a 1967 Ford Fastback GT350. The final times and running order will be released after tomorrow's qualifying, at about 5 pm Mountain time. As of now, five cars have dropped out â€" in some cases literally â€" of the original 69-car field, and 83 bikes remain of the 86 entrants.

Further up the mountain the Time Attack and Unlimited runners were practicing in the middle section of the course. Paul Dallenbach led the Time Attack field in Rhys Millen's Hyundai Genesis Coupe from last year with a time of 2:33, then came the two Porsches of Jeff Zwart at 2:38 and David Donner at 2:40

At the top of the field, the Sébastien Loeb again led the timesheets with a 2:12, and was again followed by Romain Dumas at 2:26. Third place went to Dayraut in the monster Mini at 2:29.

Rhys Millen hasn't got a mention yet because he didn't run today. His Hyundai PM580T had an engine problem last night and the team decided to put in a brand new motor. They only finished doing that this morning while the others were running, then spent the day testing at an oval/road course near Colorado Springs to make sure everything's good to go for tomorrow. He'll be back on the mountain tomorrow, and we'll be back with a report then.

Tomorrow's practice will have all of the bike divisions qualifying on the bottom of the course while the other classes get their settings dialed in for race day on Sunday. To watch or listen to the race live on Sunday, June 30, Red Bull TV will be streaming the entire event here, and you can listen on KRDO NewsRadio 105.5 FM and 1240 AM. If you insist on total coverage, feel free to follow the Pikes Peak Facebook and Twitter pages. For live timing and results, go here. If you lose all those links, just go to the Pikes Peak site and click the Follow Live tab at the top of the page. The live stream on Red Bull TV starts at 7 am Mountain time (6 am PST / 9 am EST), the green-flag party kicks off at 8 am Mountain Time.

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Motorsports: 2013 Pikes Peak Hill Climb, Practice Day 1

2013 Pikes Peak Hill Climb - Sebastian Loeb's Peugeot racer

For 2013, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb has has added a fourth practice day, part of an effort to give each of the competitors extra practice running up the mountain. That day is today, and it saw the cars running on the bottom-half of the course, while the two-wheelers ran up top.

The extra practice day was not without drama. As we mentioned earlier, the Lovefab Enviate Acura NSX of Cody Loveland endured a huge crash due to a faulty part and is likely done for the week. In the Unlimited class, the Forge Motorsports Ford RS200 driven by Pat Doran also had a big off, but his racecar might live to see raceday this weekend.

World Rally Championship maestro Sébastien Loeb showed why he's the master of perilous ascents, tallying today's quickest section time with a 3:30.768 in his Peugeot 208 T16. Loeb's time buried that of current champ Rhys Millen, who rang up 3:54.835 in his Hyundai Genesis Coupe Unlimited racer. Veteran hillclimber Paul Dallenbach chipped in with the quickest Time Attack session at 4:16.113. (For further timing and results information, click here.)

In the burgeoning Electric class, Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima has returned with his Monster Sport E-Runner for a second try after mechanical failure ended his race last year. He's got a ways to go, though, as he only ran the fourth-quickest time in the class, 4:16.562. Top time today for the Electric class went to Dakar rally winner Hiroshi Masuoka in his Mitsubishi MiEV Evolution II.

Wednesday will see more practice sessions and the start of qualifying, which will carry on throughout the week. The run for the record books in Colorado officially gets underway on Sunday at 8:00 am MDT.

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Study: Ford F-150 bumps Camry from top of Cars.com American Made Index

2013 Ford F-150 XLT

With July 4th just around the corner, what better time could there be for Cars.com to announce that the Ford F-150 is the Most American car of 2013? This may be especially true since it was the Toyota Camry, a car produced by a company based in Japan, that had held the top spot from 2009 to 2012.

Cars.com compiles its Most American list by considering the amount of parts each vehicle uses that come from America, where it's final assembly takes place and how many units per year are sold. "While the assembly point and domestic parts content of the F-150 didn't change from 2012-2013, vehicle sales are responsible for bumping the F-150 to the top spot," according to Patrick Olsen, Editor-in-Chief of Cars.com.

As far as automakers go (as opposed to individual models), Toyota retains the top spot it held in 2012, with General Motors, Chrysler, Ford and Honda (in that order) rounding out the list. The motivation behind this list each year, according to Olsen, is "to help car shoppers understand that 'American-Made' extends beyond just the Detroit three" and because "a study we conducted in 2012 indicated that 25 percent of shoppers surveyed preferred to buy American."

It should be noted, however, that Cars.com isn't the only group with an American-made study, and not everyone agrees on the methodology used. In fact, a highly detailed study earlier this year by American University's Kogod School of Business found that the Lambda CUV triplets from GM are the most American-made nameplates, and there isn't a single vehicle from a Japanese automaker anywhere near its top ten.

Feel free to browse the press release below to see how the full top-10 list breaks down.

Ford F-150 Named "Most American" in Annual Cars.com Index

CHICAGO â€" Cars.com, the premier online resource for buying and selling new and used cars, announced today that the Ford F-150 has topped the site's American-Made Index. This is the first time in four years that a domestic automaker is once again the "Most American." Prior to the F-150's top spot, the Toyota Camry topped the list from 2009-2012. The list is determined by analyzing three data points; domestic-parts content (percentage of vehicle's parts produced in the U.S.), final vehicle assembly point and vehicle sales.

"Strong sales and 75 percent domestic-parts content propelled Ford's popular F-150 to the top of the index for 2013, a rank it held from 2006 to 2008," said Patrick Olsen, Cars.com's Editor-in-Chief. "Ford's top ranking this year is a good indicator of how pickup trucks are dominating auto sales so far in 2013, and how the domestic automakers are bouncing back. While the assembly point and domestic parts content of the F-150 didn't change from 2012-2013, vehicle sales are responsible for bumping the F-150 to the top spot."

While the Toyota Camry is no longer the highest ranked on the list, Toyota still remains the brand with the greatest number of vehicles ranked. As was the case in 2012, the list remains an even split between foreign-owned and domestic-owned automakers, with five domestic brands and five foreign brands on the list. In addition to Toyota's four vehicles on the list, General Motors has a total of three. Chrysler, Ford and Honda each have one vehicle on the list.

Rank Make/Model Manufacturer U.S. Assembly Location(s) Rank in 2012
1. Ford F-150 Ford Dearborn, Mich.; Claycomo, Mo. 2
2. Toyota Camry Toyota Georgetown, Ky,; Lafayette, Ind. 1
3. Dodge Avenger Chrysler Sterling Heights, Mich. --
4. Honda Odyssey Honda Lincoln, Ala. --
5. Toyota Sienna Toyota Princeton, Ind. 4
6. Chevrolet Traverse General Motors Lansing, Mich. 6
7. Toyota Tundra Toyota San Antonio, Texas 7
8. GMC Acadia General Motors Lansing, Mich. 9
9. Buick Enclave General Motors Lansing, Mich. 10
10. Toyota Avalon Toyota Georgetown, Ky. --
"Buying American isn't necessarily the key decision maker for every car shopper; however a study we conducted in 2012 indicated that 25 percent of shoppers surveyed preferred to buy American," said Olsen. "The American-Made Index is meant to help car shoppers understand that 'American-Made' extends beyond just the Detroit three."

For full results and more information about the 2013 Cars.com American-Made Index, visit www.Cars.com or blogs.cars.com.

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ETC: Buick celebrates 110 years by naming most significant model of each decade

1963 Buick Riviera

In May of 1903, Buick began work on its first vehicle, the 1904 Model B, the first example of which was sold to a doctor in Flint, Michigan. That first sale was appropriate since later on, Buick became known as a "doctor's car." The Model B is the first of 11 cars chosen by Buick to highlight each decade of the company's 110-year history.

The 1916 D-45 Touring with a six-cylinder engine was Buick's highest seller that year, and helped push overall sales past six figures for the first time, making Buick the top-selling automotive brand. In 1931, Series 50 got an eight-cylinder engine, which helped the company survive the Great Depression. The 1936 Century was the first Buick that could hit 100 miles per hour, the 1949 Roadmaster had a supporting role in Rain Man, the 1953 Skylark had Italian wire wheels and the owner's name engraved on its steering wheel.

Then we have the iconic 1963 Riviera, the V6-powered 1975 Regal, and in 1987, the legendary GNX. With a turbocharged, intercooled V6 pumping out 276-horsepower it could hit 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds. In 1999 Buick built the first car in China, the Century, and that country remains the brand's largest market.

To represent the current decade, Buick chose the 2008 Enclave because it introduced the company's current design language and brand focus to the market. You can see photos of all these memorable Buicks in the gallery and read more of the brand's history in the press release below.

DETROIT â€" Remaining in business for 11 decades requires constant innovation, so choosing one model to represent a decade of significance can be a catalyst for debate. Among the hundreds of models designed and engineered for Buick, the 11 below stand out as the most significant for their respective decades since May 17, 1903. Let the debate begin.

1903-1912
The first Buick ever is quite significant, so Buick's first decade honor goes to the 1904 Model B. The first one of the line was sold to doctor Herbert H. Hills of Flint, Mich., decades before the brand developed its reputation as a "doctor's car."

1913-1922
The 1916 D-45 Touring was the top-selling model in 1916, a year when Buick switched its lineup from four- to six-cylinder engines. Sales tripled that year and reached six digits for the first time. Buick became the top-selling brand in the industry a few years later, with five-passenger touring models remaining most popular.

1923-1932
The 1931 Series 50 was the best-selling model in the year of another upsizing of powertrains â€" from six- to eight-cylinder engines. The more powerful engines, paired with a major design overhaul the year before, helped boost Buick's image during the Great Depression.

1933-1942
Harlow Curtice became Buick's president in 1933, and three years later, a model range including the 1936 Century showed his revolutionary vision for the brand. Its streamlined designs were a dramatic change and Buick's engines grew more powerful, making the Century the first Buick to reach 100 mph. Sales grew from 53,249 in 1935 to 168,596 in 1936 and continued to rise in the years to come.

1943-1952
Buick's most iconic design features, including signature waterfall grilles and portholes, date to the 1949 Roadmaster. One of the most collectible Buicks of all time, the Roadmaster even became a Hollywood star in the 1988 film Rain Man.

1953-1962
Buick celebrated its 50th birthday with the 1953 Skylark, an opulent, limited-production convertible with advanced design and technology. Each had Italian wire wheels and the owner's name engraved on the steering wheel. The same year also marked the first year of Buick V-8 engines and a new twin-turbine Dynaflow automatic transmission.

1963-1972
Buick's most famous production design is the 1963 Riviera, a powerful sport coupe said to be inspired by a Rolls-Royce that Buick design boss Bill Mitchell saw through a fog in London. It energized a brand emerging from a period of design criticism.

1973-1982
Amid an oil crisis, the 1975 Regal offered a standard V-6 engine at a time when other mid-size sedans offered only gas-thirstier V-8s. Buick still leads the way in the downsizing trend, offering four-cylinder engines on four of its five 2013 models.

1983-1992
Buick's lightweight, high-tech V-6 engines, mixed with the brand's success in NASCAR, resulted in the brand's most iconic performance car, the 1987 GNX. Its 276-hp turbocharged and intercooled V-6 delivered 0-60 mph acceleration in just 4.6 seconds, according to Car and Driver magazine.

1993-2002
A 1999 Century was Buick's first model built in China for the local market. Although Buick has a long reputation as a prestigious brand in China (one in six cars on Shanghai roads in 1930 were Buicks, according to the city's government,) production there has driven the brand's success over the past decade. China is now Buick's largest market, with 700,007 vehicles sold in 2012.

2003-2012
The 2008 Enclave luxury crossover ushered in Buick's current design language and brand focus. Along with the LaCrosse luxury sedan, which went on sale as a 2010 model, the Enclave introduced buyers to a new era of Buicks with leading design, quietness, quality and safety.

About Buick
Buick is a modern luxury brand offering vehicles with sculpted designs, luxurious interiors with thoughtful personal technologies, along with responsive-yet-efficient performance. Buick is attracting new customers with its portfolio of award-winning luxury models, including the Enclave crossover, LaCrosse sedan, Regal sport sedan, Buick Verano sedan and the all-new Encore crossover. Learn more about Buick cars and crossovers at www.buick.com, on Twitter @buick, on Pinterest or at www.facebook.com/buick

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Video: Watch this tuned VW van break Sabine Schmitz's record

We tend to get hot and bothered when a production car sets a newly minted lap record around the incomparable Nürburgring Nordshleife, but records for other types of vehicles tend to fly beneath the radar. Thank God then that we've got the Germans to pay attention to these things on our behalf.

Volkswagen tuning outfit Revo had such a record in mind when it started to hot-up a VW T5 2.0 turbo diesel van to make a record 'Ring run. The target was a lap turned in by none other than the Queen of the Ring herself, Sabine Schmitz â€" a 10:08-lap done in a Ford Transit van for the guffawing audience of Top Gear.

Revo changed the stock ECU map on the T5, fitted a custom exhaust and an uprated intercooler and oil cooler, underpinned the whole deal with a Bilstein coilover kit and set to racing. The final product was just racy enough, in the capable hands of veteran driver Dale Lomas, to finish its lap some 11 seconds quicker than the former record. Circumnavigating the Nordshleife in under 10 minutes in a commercial diesel van is, of course, bonkers, which is as good a reason as any to watch the video of the run below.


Revo VW T5 Smashes 'Ring Lap Record On First Attempt

VW Group tuning expert Revo has set a new record for a commercial vehicle lap of the Nürburgring during a recent test sessionâ€" smashing the world famous lap set by Sabine Schmitz in a Ford Transit van on the Top Gear TV Show.

As the world's most demanding race track, the fabled Nurburgring offers more challenges - and kudos â€" than any other piece of motorsport real estate. The record set by Sabine, a highly impressive 'Bridge to Gantry' time of some 10 minutes and 8 seconds was felt by many â€" including the talented lady herself â€" to be about the most that a standard van could do.

This lead to the question, what could a lightly modified van, breathed on by Revo's talented technicians, make the same lap in? The logical way to answer this was to pick a suitable base vehicle and find out. The excellent VW T5 2.0 Twin Turbo Diesel was chosen and supplied by Transporterland in Lydney, not only as one of the most capable commercial platforms and tuneable powertrains out there, but also because of its bomb-proof reliability and car-like dynamics. Having covered a hard 80,000 miles already, this particular van was also perfectly run-in! As able as the T5 is in standard trim however, the Revo team gave it even more of a fighting chance - with the addition of a bespoke ECU remap, Milltek 'turbo-back' exhaust system and a Forge intercooler/oil cooler combination. This was enough to take the engine to an impressive â€" and useful - 220bhp and with a very healthy rise in torque. More than many contemporary hot hatches!

Chassis duties were taken care of with a simple addition of BILSTEIN's well-proven B14 coilover kit, a quartet of lightweight Team Dynamics wheels and a set of sticky, but fully road legal, Direzza boots from Revo's tyre partner, Dunlop. With this lot fitted, the ethos was simple; drive it the 580 miles to The Ring, complete with all of the crew's kit and gear in the back, drive around the track as fast as possible, and then drive all the way home again. No trailers, no back-up plans, no contingencies. Just a simple proving exercise of the concept in a real-world situation. Despite driving hard on track, the intelligent tuning and thoughtful engine mapping ensured that fuel economy during the trip under normal driving conditions remained exceptional.

As Top Gear had equipped themselves with one 'Ring legend, Revo decided to do likewise, drafting in seasoned Nordschleife veteran Dale Lomas for driving duties. In between a hectic life as Rent4Ring sales supremo, driving instructor and the brains behind the cult 'Bridge To Gantry' Ring website, Dale managed to find a few minutes to don his fireproofs and hustle the T5 around for a few laps. Just like Top Gear, the team didn't have the luxury of an empty track, instead sharing the tarmac with the lucky guests of the recent Destination Nurburgring track day.

After just a couple of laps to find his feet, and clearly enjoying himself, Dale took the T5 by the scruff of the neck and managed to complete a FULL lap in just 9mins:57.36 seconds â€" a feat that was revealed and ratified by the onboard GPS Racelogic software reviewed after the run. The full circuit is around a mile longer than the 'Bridge to Gantry' lap time set by Sabine's run in the Transit for Top Gear, making Revo's new record breaking time seem all the more impressive..

Still visibly amused after his flying laps, Dale commented, 'I have been asked to drive many vehicles around the Ring, but I have to say, Revo's request to pedal their van was one of the more leftfield and exciting. The thing is an absolute hoot, and surprisingly nimble and compliant. It's all a bit of fun really, but I'm delighted that we managed a full lap of the Nordschleife in under 10 minutes. I'd love to see what we could do on a clear track!'

STaSIS Revo Group President James Leng added, 'Dale's right, this is one of our more 'tongue-in-cheek' engineering exercises, but we are trying to prove a serious point â€" and that is that our ECU conversions, and the select performance hardware components that we fit in conjunction with our technical partners, are more than up to the job of whatever you ask them to do. Whether your T5 leads a hard life towing, as your delivery vehicle, or as your holiday home .. or whether you would like to go and scalp a couple of M5s for a giggle, we have the exact ECU remap and hardware package that you need, and without compromise on economy!'

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Motorsports: The pre-race and first in-race report from Le Mans

The 2013, 90th anniversary edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans has begun, tragedy marking the opening laps with the death of Allan Simonsen. We're at the track now as a guest of Audi and plan to stay through the evening, and even we haven't been able to find out what caused the accident â€" the only video is from just after the incident, and beyond the statement from ACO there's been no more news. The Aston Martin in the LM GTE Am class and its all-Danish drivers had taken pole in its class and was one of the favorites to win.

The pre-race report will come first, and even thought we can't spoil the race because we're only five hours into it at the time of writing, we'll put all of the news at the end in case you don't even want the updates.

Or you can go straight to the high-res galleries above.


Audi R18 E-tron Quattro cars one and two

Audi's pre-race press conference was a little bit of talk about the new car and a lot of thinly veiled chastisements to the ACO about how the organizing body has been changing the rules to slow down the Audis at the behest of Toyota. Among several comments thanking the ACO for its commitment to the beneficial future of the sport, the moderator said things like "We don't know if the WEC would exist if not for the commitment of Audi and Volkswagen," and race chief Wolfgang Ullrich had the ACO president on stage where he delivered the same kinds of messages in person, as he handed over the 2012 World Endurance Championship series-winning R18 to the ACO museum.

The ACO changes the regulations to ensure Balance of Performance (BoP). They have been tweaked consistently as competitors tried to find a way to beat Audi on and off the track â€" things were especially contentious when Peugeot was running. Toyota didn't win Le Mans last year but won the four races to close out last year. Still, when this year's regulations were written, Audi's R18 E-tron Quattro was further limited with a smaller air restrictor. After the first two races of this year â€" which is when the BoP regulations can be altered â€" Toyota not only didn't win a race, but the first Toyotas in both races finished a lap down. Toyota's sole 2013 car, run at the second race, only made it about half the race's total distance before retiring. Toyota said the BoP "significantly favored Audi," and the ACO changed the rules to allow gasoline-powered cars to three more liters of fuel and shrunk the size of the air restrictor on the Audi. Ullrich, normally quiet in such situations, asked, "How can someone come to the first race without their new car and then bring one to the second race and complete only half the race and ask for a change in the BoP?" he said.

The result now is that Toyota can do one more lap than Audi before it has to pit. Remember, everyone says the key to winning at Le Mans is staying on track. Over the 24-hour period, Audi says that Toyota can save itself three pit stops compared to the Audi. In order to make up the deficit, Ullrich says the R18 E-tron Quattro has to be 0.5-second quicker per lap than Toyota.

Toyota Le Mans racer

Audi folks are unhappy. We spoke to the man who develops the R18 E-tron Quattro's engine, and his agitation was evident as soon as he began to talk about the work done to restore performance â€" but all they could do was change the mapping since the change was made so late. Another example he gave of ACO capriciousness was when, last year, Audi asked the ACO if the body would allow a compressed-air hybrid, which is technology Audi wants to work on for its road cars. The ACO said yes. Then at the beginning of this year, after months of work, the ACO told Audi they wouldn't allow it. According to the engineer, the ACO told Audi, "We made a mistake." The problem is that "This represents millions in development," he said â€" millions that are lost in incidents like this. "Le Mans is about technology, and if we can't practice here what we want to do with our road cars, it makes no sense for us."

Audi has taken the first three positions for the third year in a row. Car No. 2 was first on the grid, driven by Loïc Duval, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish. Duval, who Kristensen called one of the fastest drivers of his generation, set the lap time but had two laps of clear traffic to do it, something that almost never happens at Le Mans. The Audi in second place is car No. 1 driven by André Lotterer, Marcel Fässler and Benoit Tréluyer, the team that's won the last two editions of the race. Lotterer set the lap time and the rumor was that he was sand-bagging; he leaves a little in reserve then turns it on during the race. Car No. 3 is Lucas di Grassi, Oliver Jarvis and Marc Gene.

The monococque in the R18 E-tron Quattro weighs half that of the one from the R8R Audi ran in 1999, the first time it came to Le Mans. Fuel consumption dropped by ten percent from 2000 to 2010 (and over the switch from gasoline to diesel) even as top speeds went up from 208 to 225 miles per hour.

Toyota has places four and five, followed by the privateers at Rebellion Racing. The Rebellion R-One was designed, developed and built by Oreca, the sports car manufacturer that has a number of other cars in the race, and uses Toyota engines. (Oreca is actually an acronym, it stands for Organisation, Exploitation Competition Automobile. They assisted Mazda with the 787B that won in 1991, the Dodge Vipers that took GT victories in 1998, 1999 and 2000, and the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP. They are helping Toyota Racing this year with "operational support" for the TS030.)

In LMP2 Morgan took pole; Aston Martin took the top spots in both LM GTE Pro and LM GTE Am.

Patrick Dempsey heads the Dempsey-Del Piero-Proton team, his co-drivers Joe Foster and Patrick Long in the No. 77 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. It's the second time Dempsey's been a driver, his first time in 2009 when he drove a Ferrari F430.

The rumor we heard about Porsche's 2014 Le Mans entry is that it will be a hybrid, with a twin-turbo V6 mentioned to be at the heart of it. Porsche hasn't given anything away, though, saying only that they're doing everything in-house. And speaking of homes, Audi has billboards all over the Circuit de la Sarthe that say "Le Mans. Home of quattro." Porsche has put up its own billboards, some in front of the Audi pits, that say "Home is where the heart is."

Before the race we checked out the the 11 cars "that have written the history of the race" since 1923, parked on the slope up to the Dunlop Bridge.

Two women are driving in the race, Keiko Ihara and Natasha Gachnang.

THE RACE REPORT EIGHT HOURS IN:
The weather has been dry, then rainy, the spitting, then back through the cycle. The Audis have suffered the kinds of technical gremlins we aren't used to seeing from them, which is the only thing that has kept the lead Toyota in the game. It's being speculated that Audi No. 3 is set up differently than the other two, using a blown diffuser. The Corvettes are having a rough time of it. Only two cars have officially retired.

Corvette at Le MansSRT Viper at Le Mans

Kristensen leads in the No. 2 Audi, driving his first stint. He's followed by the second No. 8 Toyota driven by Stephane Sarrazin, the No. 7 Toyota driven by Kazuki Nakajima. Audi No. 3 had dropped to fourth but was in the garage again with technical issues, and was just released, behind the safety car, driven by Lucas di Grassi, apparently still in fourth but two laps down. The No. 13 Rebellion is in fifth, three laps down.

In LMP2 the No. 35 Oak Racing Morgan driven by Bertrand Baguette owns the lead, followed by the No. 24 Oak Racing Morgan driven by Oliver Pla and the No. 42 Zytek Nissan driven by Jann Mardenborough.

GTE Pro is a three-way fight at the lead, the triplets bunched up after the hour-long safety car session at the beginning of the race. Bruno Senna in the No. 99 Aston Martin leads the No. 97 Aston Martin driven by Pete Dumbreck and the No. 92 Porsche driven by Richard Lietz.

GTE Am is headed by the No. 77 Porsche driven by Patrick Long, followed by the No. 88 Porsche driven by P Ruberti and the No. 55 Ferrari of Darryl O'Young.

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Tesla Model S battery swap takes just 90 seconds, will track your old battery pack

tesla model s

We'll link to this 2009 post up front, just to make sure everyone's clear that the fact that a Tesla EV can, indeed, do battery swaps is old news. Yes, four years ago, we learned the all-electric Model S was designed with battery swaps in mind. Or, as Tesla CEO said tonight, "We designed Model S from the beginning to be capable of swapping out the battery pack faster than you can fill a gas tank." Are we clear? Good.

Still, last night's first public demonstration of such a swap â€" which took place at the Tesla Design Studio in Los Angeles and involved two Model S EVs getting fresh packs before a gas car at "LA's fastest gas station" filled up its tank with gasoline â€" represents a big new step in the evolving electric vehicle landscape. With the recent departure of Better Place, no one could blame you if you thought the only reasonable way to travel long-distance in an electric vehicle was to use fast charging (where there are three competing standards: CHAdeMO, SAE Combo and Tesla's own free Supercharger network). But now Tesla has surprised us all with an official announcement about the Model S battery swap. Tesla has been hinting about the battery swap system for weeks now (1, 2), and here's what we learned tonight.

Musk framed the choice to Supercharge or swap as one between "free or fast." While Supercharging costs a Model S driver nothing, getting a new, fully charged battery pack will cost around the same as about 15 gallons of gas (so, let's say around $60). Later, you can get your old pack back (again, fully charged and for another $60 fee) or you can pay an undetermined fee and keep the pack. Forbes says there will be a warranty available on the replacement pack, depending on its condition.

The pack swap stations, which cost around half-a-million dollars to build, will be installed next to Supercharger locations and will be available in busy Tesla areas, like the I5 corridor in California and between Boston and Washington, DC.

We'll have more information later today.

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Video: Fiat's 'Environmentally Sexy' online matchmaking site amuses

Fiat 500e EnvironmentallySexy.com ad

Oh, Fiat. You're so witty and attractive and... environmentally sexy? That's the idea put forward by the automaker's latest 500e marketing campaign, which is centered around the company's "dating" site, EnvironmentallySexy.com.

Visitors answer a series of questions to be matched with their perfect Fiat 500e. Questions such as:
"Honestly, I'm here because I..."

A. am really lonely
B. love match sites
C. am extremely sexy

There are some humorously cute testimonial videos featuring Ryan the playboy sipping a wheatgrass, goat cheese goji smoothy and his way hot girlfriend, Sofia, who is a lawyer and Italian gameshow hostess. They were brought together not because of their love for each other's looks, but because of their love for the Earth. Ahhh. Isn't that sweet? Trust us, it is when Sofia says it.

The site is a good 20-minute time-waster and a unique way for Fiat to show off its electric car without getting all greenpreachy. Videos and press release below.


Find Your Eco-Partner at EnvironmentallySexy.com

FIAT brand launches matchmaking site for people who love the environment, Italian design and electric cars

June 20, 2013 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Does your planet-saving sexiness keep you from finding true love? Are you hot, eco-friendly and love to take charge? If you answered yes, the FIAT brand has the perfect mate waiting for you at www.EnvironmentallySexy.com.

Created to introduce the all-new 2013 Fiat 500e, EnvironmentallySexy.com has the fun and flirty feel of a matchmaking site. The site is filled with information geared toward the California-based consumer providing them with the insight they need to select the right vehicle, find out about potential rebates they may be eligible for and identify charging stations located across the state. The 2013 Fiat 500e will arrive at California FIAT studios this summer.

"Our goal is to simplify the decision-making process on the purchase or lease of a 2013 Fiat 500e by arming consumers with information that is not only informative, but conveyed in an easy-to-understand manner," said Jason Stoicevich, Head of FIAT Brand North America. "The Fiat 500e is not your typical battery-electric vehicle; it's innovative, stylish, fun to drive and affordable. It was essential to design a site that would match the vehicle's persona and encourage visitors to test drive and ultimately purchase or lease a Fiat 500e."

EnvironmentallySexy.com has the feel of a matchmaking site, but delivers information on the vehicle in formats, such as quizzes and videos. Homeowners, renters and apartment-dwellers will find information that is tailored to their specific needs. The site also will analyze a customer's lifestyle to match the appropriate Fiat 500 model that fit their needs.

Meet the Couples Who Found Their Match on EnvironmentallySexy.com
Environmentally-sexy power couples, Fabrizio and Kimberly, and Ryan and Sofia, found true love using EnvironmentallySexy.com. These couples detail their love of the environment and the Fiat 500e through a series of video testimonials.

Fabrizio and Kimberly
Meet Fabrizio - He's an Italian eco-fashion model who loves the environment almost as much as he loves seeing his face on the covers of magazines or on the chrome of his espresso machine.

Meet Kimberly - She's a sassy and environmentally-sophisticated gal whose adoration for Fabrizio has introduced her to the many pleasures of the Italian-designed Fiat 500e.

Ryan and Sofia
Meet Sofia â€" Not only is Sofia a gorgeous, Italian game show host, but she's also a lawyer who can rattle off the differences between federal credits and state incentives as easily as it is to search for the perfect Fiat 500e on EnvironmentallySexy.com.

Meet Ryan â€" He can't get enough of Sofia and her knowledge of the Fiat 500e. Whatever Sofia says, Ryan eats it up like Italian gelato on a hot summer day.

EnvironmentallySexy.com was created in partnership with SapientNitro of Miami.

About the Fiat 500e
With its iconic style, world-class dynamics and environmentally responsible zero-emissions design, the all-new 2013 Fiat 500e builds on the Cinquecento legacy, while offering customers a no-compromise electric vehicle (EV) that embodies the FIAT brand's simple, purposeful and fun-to-drive values. The Fiat 500e electrifies the Cinquecento lineup with even more innovation and style, an EPA tested 87 miles of best-in-class driving range and an industry-best 108 per gallon equivalent (MPGe) highway rating of pure battery-electric power. The all-new Fiat 500e is available in the second-quarter of 2013 and is priced at $32,600, which includes a $800 destination charge. However, eligible California residents may be able to purchase the Fiat 500e for as low as $20,600, after federal credits, state incentives and FIAT rebates are included.

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Video: The Shredder is like a jet-ski for land, with tank treads

Blending the attributes of an ATV, a jet ski, a tank and a skateboard is no easy task, but that is just the diverse kind of capability that the BPG Werks DTV Shredder is offering to the powersports market.

The Shredder is powered by a 196cc, two-stroke gasoline engine, which is connected to a dual-CVT drive. A total of 13 horsepower offer riders a top speed of 30 miles per hour, which probably seems plenty fast on an upright rig like this one. Riders stand on a pivoting, spiked deck that turns by way of leaning, just like a skateboard, while the upright handle offers throttle and brake, and a place to hang on. And, of course, ownership of the vehicle grants one admin status on all Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fan boards.

We could go on, but the Translogic crew does a first-rate job of explaining what the Shredder is, as well as getting the low down about the project from BPG Werks CEO Ben Gulak. Watch it all, below.

BPG Werks DTV Shredder: TRANSLOGIC 131

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Lego approves fan-made Mars Rover Curiosity set for production [w/video]

Lego has announced that the Mars Rover Curiosity will become the Danish company's next user-designed Cuusoo set to reach store shelves. The company's Cuusoo program allows anyone to submit an idea for a Lego set that could make it to production. After having been among a small group of sets to receive at least 10,000 votes â€" the minimum required â€" in the 2012 Fall Review on the Lego Cuusoo site, the Mars Rover Curiosity then survived an exhaustive review process, which not all sets do (sorry, UCS Sandcrawler), before receiving final approval from the company. While it got the nod, pricing and availability is yet to be determined as the set continues being developed for mass production. Scroll down to watch Lego make the announcement on video.

The Mars Rover Curiosity Lego set actually has an interesting back story. Its designer, listed as Perijove on the set's official Cuusoo page, is a mechanical engineer who worked on the real Mars Rover Curiosity at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which means his recreation of the rover is highly accurate, not only in how it looks, but also in the details and all of its moving parts. Perijove states that the purpose of his model is "to continue the educational outreach for this incredible mission." The timing couldn't have been better, as the set became popular on the Lego Cuusoo site in late Summer 2012 when the real Curiosity rover touched down and began rolling around on the surface of Mars.

The last set to make it all of the way through Lego's Cuusoo program was the Lego Back to the Future DeLorean, which received approval for production last December. Other autos-related Cuusoo sets that received 10,000+ votes and are scheduled for production review include an incredibly detailed Land Rover Defender 110 and minifig-scale Batman Tumblr.

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Spy Shots: Buick version of Equinox/Terrain CUV spied testing... with autonomous gear?

Buick compact crossover spy shot

Let's get the most pressing bits of this story out of the way right off the bat: What we see here appears to be a new compact crossover from Buick. According to the spy photographer, this machine may be a little bit smaller on the outside than the current Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain 'utes, which makes sense since recent rumors suggest GM's small crossovers will migrate to a new platform that will mark a convergence between the automaker's Delta (Chevy Cruze, Buick Verano) and Theta (Equinox, Terrain) platforms. This Buick would likely use this new D2UX platform.

We've been expecting Buick to unleash a crossover to slot between the very small Encore and the very large Enclave, and various rumors have indicated that the model may be known as either the Anthem or Envision. It's worth mentioning that Buick had planned, back in 2009, to release a vehicle in the compact CUV market, but abandoned those plans after a particularly poor reception.

And now for something completely different... Take another look at the spy shots above, and pay special attention to the cylindrical device mounted to the vehicle's roof. We can't say for sure what it is, but our spy photographer opines that it looks quite a bit like the 360-degree Lidar camera equipment used by Google for its autonomous cars. Is General Motors working with Google on autonomous car technology? We don't know, but you can definitely consider us intrigued.

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Motorsports: SRT Viper ready for Le Mans after 10-year absence [w/video]

The Viper will once again roar down the storied Mulsanne straight, as SRT is returning to the famed French race with two identically prepared GTS-R race cars set to compete at Le Mans later this month. Enthusiasts have been waiting a long time for a repeat appearance of the ten-cylinder coupes, which haven't raced since winning the GTS class three times from 1998 to 2000. Ralph Gilles, president and chief executive officer of the SRT brand and motorsports, told Autoweek, "Le Mans is a world stage. The GTS-R has enjoyed great success at Le Mans in the past, and we're excited to start a new chapter of Viper racing at that historic venue."

Understandably, the rules at Le Mans have changed over the past decade and the automaker will be racing a new vehicle. Gary Johnson, SRT racing manager, told the publication, "Our plan is to be as competitive as we can and see what happens at the end."

The new GTS-R shouldn't have trouble running against its competitors in the LM GTE Pro Class, as its chassis has proven itself several times since its American Le Mans Series (ALMS) debut last August. This year alone, the No. 91 Viper has finished in the top five in all three races it has entered. "We're going with the same commitment to do our best," said Johnson.

To learn more about SRT's race efforts, check out its new web series called Beyond the Checkered Flag. We've linked to the first video below.

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Report: NHTSA boss Strickland weighs in on Jeep recall fracas

David Strickland

Adding yet another chapter to the ongoing Jeep recall story, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) head David Strickland has gone on record to defend the government's request that Chrysler recall 2.7 million out-of-production Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Liberty vehicles after the agency investigated fiery rear-end collisions that have reportedly killed at least 51 people over the years. In statements made to The Detroit News, Strickland said, "We felt very strongly that the process that we undertook and the findings that we made and ... we made the decision to issue a recall request. We do not take that very lightly." The top US auto safety regulator stopped short of telling owners to park their cars until the automaker takes action. "They can make their own risk assessment and their own choices," he said.

Chrysler does not intend to recall the models, insisting the "vehicles met and exceeded all applicable requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, including FMVSS 301, pertaining to fuel-system integrity" when they were manufactured and sold. "The company does not agree with NHTSA's conclusions and does not intend to recall the vehicles cited in the investigation. The subject vehicles are safe and are not defective," Chrysler announced last week in a statement. "We believe NHTSA's initial conclusions are based on an incomplete analysis of the underlying data, and we are committed to continue working with the agency to resolve this disagreement."

Legally, Chrysler has until June 18 to formally respond to NHTSA's request. If the automaker does not take action, NHTSA is expected to issue a formal finding and seek a recall.

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Report: Tesla Model S costs one nickel per drag race [w/video]

Historically, the intersection between electric vehicles and drag racing has been really small â€" or so we guess, at least. But the advent of Tesla in the auto marketplace, and the subsequent performance offered up to drivers by way of battery-powered cars, has caused even racy publications like DragTimes to get in on the action.

Having posted several YouTube videos featuring the Tesla Model S doing pulls at the local strip, DragTimes encountered questions about just how many races that car might be able to run before needing to re-juice its battery pack. The publication monitored the energy being used by the Tesla during full-throttle, quarter-mile runs, and determined that the net use (after energy from the regen braking was added back in) amounted to just 0.5 kWh per go. Considering that the full battery capacity is 85 kWh, DragTimes figured that the Model S is good for a remarkable 170 races before needing a recharge. By that math, and using electricity costs in DragTime's home state of Florida, each race would cost just a nickel and a penny's worth of electricity.

With respect, that theoretical number is probably way too high. For starters, the car would expend some energy getting to and from the starting line between races. Perhaps more critically, the system is designed to not allow for a completely full charge or deletion of charge, so the car can't use all 85 kWh. Still, 100 runs is in the realm of possibility. In the video below, the narrator makes mention of 150 runs, which is optimistic but more likely. Cheap thrills, in any case (once you've paid for the car).

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Video: SC investigating changeable electronic license plates [w/poll]

electronic license plate

South Carolina may soon lead the way into the future with electronic license plates for cars and trucks. Using so-called electronic paper, technology similar to what is seen on digital readers like the Amazon Kindle, these new license plates would be capable of dynamically changing from normal numbers and letters to a word like SUSPENDED, UNINSURED or STOLEN.

Both passing motorists and police would be able to read the plate's message, and the designers say warning messages could be in bright red or made to flash. Each digital license plate would be linked to the DMV using a cellular connection, and power for the display would be generated either by the vibrations of an automobile or by a solar film over the plate. Power would only be required to change the plate's display â€" no power is required to keep the current display in place, and its creators say the DMV would not be able to track the plate.

At present, a proposal is in the works that would see state-owned vehicles in South Carolina use these electronic plates in a pilot program. If successful, and if cost can be brought to manageable levels, electronic plates could replace the simple stamped metal plates currently in use across the country. We have to wonder, though, how the general population would react to digital license plates that are connected wireless to an agency like the DMV. Why not voice your opinion in our completely unscientific poll, but not before watching the video report below.

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E3: We log some seat time with DriveClub [w/video]

The gaming world is abuzz with early love for the Playstation 4, if the water-cooler talk around the 2013 E3 conference are anything to go by. Much of this has to do with the vast potential of the new Sony hardware, though the announced price of $399 caught a lot of folks off guard in a nice way, and lots of potential Xbox One customers have been turned off by that system's always-on Internet connection and its lack of support for used games. If we look simply at the here and now of driving games, however, with no Gran Turismo 6 announced yet for PS4, the new system will rely heavily on DriveClub as it's opening salvo for racing gamers.

We sat down for a few quick laps of DriveClub, and came away mildly entertained, but without feeling as though we had a real grasp of what the title will deliver at launch.

As with all of the new-system games, DriveClub is lovely to look at, with flowing and detailed environments surrounding accurately architectured vehicles. After watching the initial teaser trailers for the game, we expected something closer to real-life fidelity in terms of style, however â€" our demo included games that were stickered up and wearing game-branded liveries. Questionable digital paint jobs aren't a deal-breaker, to be sure, but they did speak to a game that was slightly more arcade-racery than we'd expected.

The physics behind the Audi R8 that we selected to drive were convincing, even if they didn't live up to those we tasted in both GT6 and the newest Forza. Instead, DriveClub seems poised to make its way with expanded options for social and networked racing. Huge numbers of racers will be supported simultaneously, and the Playstation 4 camera will allow you to upload your own pictures with which to tag your cars. (In our demo, this meant a sort of digital Polaroid hanging off the rear bumper of competitor cars, but we're hoping for more advanced options, as well.)

All in, the gameplay was entertaining, but didn't blow our minds for a completely new title. We'll reserve our judgment for playing the full version, however, as DriveClub does seem poised to do it's best work in a sort of massively multi-player environment.

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E3: We play the first Gran Turismo 6 demo [w/video]

While a lots of the driving games shown off at this year's Entertainment Electronics Expo (E3) leverage the vast power of the new Xbox One and Playstation 4 consoles, Polyphony Digital's Gran Turismo 6 will attempt to squeeze one more round out of the venerable Playstation 3. After playing a short demo version of GT6 here in Los Angeles, we can see both upside and downside with that strategy.

On the positive side, though we don't know the official release date just yet, it's extremely likely that Gran Turismo 6 will be available to play before 2013 is out. That means more racing fun around this year's holiday season; most likely, we'll all be digging into the best ever rendition of GT, with new tracks, cars and a revised dynamic modeling. A list of some of the new cars is highlighted in the press release below, but the C7 Corvette is heavily featured (there was one on the stage next to GT's play area), and the Nissan DeltaWing might be the first car we have to save up for and buy.

As is the franchise's wont, the physics behind car and track are powerfully realistic in GT6. Developers worked with Yokohama on a new tire model, KW Automotive on a new suspension model and refined the aerodynamic model to boot. The result, at least in our ten minutes at the helm, is remarkably true to life; satisfying to get right, and sometimes quite frustrating during the hard bits.

The bad part of sticking with the PS3 hardware is that, of course, GT6 doesn't have the raw power of new titles on next-gen systems â€" most notably Forza Motorsport 5. The E3 crowds have been all but inundated with the rendering capability, speed and flawless online capabilities of the driving games for PS4 and Xbox One. We'll have to wait for the full version of the game to be sure (the pre-alpha GT6 we sampled is not fully baked), but it'll be a tough go in early 2014 when the newest software starts to hit. Scroll down below to see the Gran Turismo 6 concept movie or to read the official press release.


E3 - 2013: Latest Gran Turismo 6 Information
06/11/2013
At 6pm local time on June 10, 2013, the PlayStation® E3 Press Conference was held and the latest news regarding Gran Turismo 6 was released. Here is an overview of what was announced:

Inclusion of popular cars beginning with FIA GT3 machines

Gran Turismo 6 will feature a huge number of the world's most popular cars, including the latest and greatest machines from the exciting FIA GT3 category. The GT3 cars shown at E3 2013 include the following:

Nissan DeltaWing Race Car '12

With an extremely narrow front end and a wide rear end, this car's revolutionary triangular styling has sent shockwaves through the racing car design world. After appearing for the first time in the 2012 LeMans 24 hour race, the car also participated in the Petit LeMans at Road Atlanta of the U.S., where GT Academy Winner Lucas Ordóñez and his fellow drivers achieved 5 th place overall, proving the potential of this concept beyond doubt.

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray (C7) '14

Gran Turismo has followed the development process of this car from the introduction of the camouflaged Test Prototype, to the pre-production Final Prototype. And at E3 2013, the production model will finally make its appearance. Drive and enjoy the new Stingray that will soon be delivered to eagerly awaiting Corvette fans around the world.

BMW Z4 GT3 '11

BMW introduced this car in the FIA GT3 category after the great success of the M3 in races all over the world. Based on the production Z4, the car has been made lighter, the centre of gravity has been lowered, the tread width widened and the aerodynamics improved. The engine is a 4 litre V8 that carries the DNA of the legendary M3. Its long nosed, short deck proportions and aggressive facia give this car the visage of a true fighting machine.

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 '11

The SLS AMG GT3 achieved its first victory in the Nürburgring 24 hour race in 2013. While keeping the dedicated SLS AMG aluminium space frame and 6.3 litre V8, modifications have been made to make it a racing machine meeting FIA GT3 regulations. Its unique pulsating exhaust sound gives another special flavour to the car which inherits the gull wing doors of the legendary 300SL.

Nissan GT-R NISMO GT3 N24 Schulze Motorsport '13

This is the racing machine that Kazunori Yamauchi, producer of the Gran Turismo series, drove in the 2013 Nürburgring 24 hour race. Though based on the production car, the tread width is greatly expanded, with its drive train changed from four wheel drive to rear wheel drive, shedding a lot of weight in the process. It was the first Japanese car in Nürburgring history to lead for a sustained period during qualifying, showing its extremely high potential as a racing car.

Audi R8 LMS ultra (Audi Sport Team Phoenix) #3 '12

This is a GT3 machine born from the R8, Audi's flagship sports car. Their famous Quattro system has been shelved for this model to adopt a midship rear wheel drive drivetrain. The performance of the ultra version has been greatly enhanced by a number of improvements, including changing the door panels to carbon and upgrading the exhaust and aerodynamics. Car #3 is the car of Team Phoenix, and is the champion machine of the 2012 Nürburgring 24 hour race.

New Locations with Grander Scale

In E3 2013, new locations included in Gran Turismo 6 were also introduced. Here are the three locations that were announced at the show:

Gemasolar (Photo Stage)

Gemasolar is a massive concentrated solar power plant located in Seville, Spain. A total of 2650 reflector mirrors that are each 9 metres tall and 12 metres wide are arranged in a circular layout, and the facility generates enough electricity to power 25000 homes. This expansive facility covers an amazing 185 hectares (approximately 457 acres) of land, making it a particularly scenic spot in Gran Turismo. This is a truly unique location where the utilization of limitless natural energy is visualized on a colossal scale.

Willow Springs International Raceway

This famous circuit in California is now reaching its 60 th anniversary, and is finally making an appearance in Gran Turismo. The Willow Springs International Raceway is a circuit that is located in a hilly region just outside of Los Angeles. Of its many layouts, the circuit we are introducing this time is the main course, the "Big Willow". At 2.5 miles per lap, it is known for its high speed corners and undulating terrain.

Matterhorn

This is an original track that has been created in the vicinity of the Gornergrat station, which is known for its incredible view of the Matterhorn. This is a mountain course with steep climbs and sharp drops, located at an elevation of over 3000 metres. A sheer rock face follows along the track, but the width of the course is wide enough for overtaking. The sight of the European Alps as you cross over the hill here is simply spectacular. We hope everyone will enjoy the sheer scale of the nature around the track when driving this course.

Introducing a movie showing the highlights of Gran Turismo 6

At E3 2013, the "GT6 Concept Movie #2 2013 E3" was released, showing the highlights and new evolutions made in Gran Turismo 6. In addition to the new cars and tracks introduced above, the movie also shows the progress that was made possible in simulation thanks to collaborations with technical partners such as the Yokohama Rubber Corporation and KW Automotive, as well as the evolution of the graphic engine.

New car physics simulation

The physics model which dictates car dynamics has been renewed completely. Load changes of the car, changes in vehicle attitude, relationship of the surface and the tyres are even more real now, and players familiar to the game will immediately feel the new depth in drive feel the first time they turn the steering wheel.

Tyre Modelling

With the help of our technical partner, the Yokohama Rubber Corporation, a new tyre model has been introduced that reflects the tyre compound, tyre structure, and changes in characteristics under extreme load conditions.

Suspension Modelling

In collaboration with German suspension manufacturer KW Automotive: the precision and reality of the model representing shock absorbers which governs the drive feel of cars, has improved significantly.

Aerodynamics

The down force, lift and air resistance â€" which continually changes according to the shape of the car â€" changes in vehicle attitude and its relationship with the ground surface, have all been recreated to a level of precision never seen before. Keen players will probably start to feel the airflow around the car as they drive.

Adaptive Tessellation

Adaptive tessellation is next generation technology in terms of 3D model rendering. Tessellation involves dividing a polygon into multiple geometric tiles, and in adaptive tessellation, the polygons will automatically divide and become finer according to the viewing distance and position. This makes it possible to maintain the quality of the renders very high whether you are close or far from your viewing object.

HDR Rendering Engine

In order to more accurately express the wide dynamic range of real life scenery, the HDR dynamic range in Gran Turismo 6 has been made 50 times greater than that in GT5. This prevents over flaring of highlights and black outs in shadows caused by extreme differences in brightness. It also allows natural blurring effects, better motion blurring which increases dynamic motion effects, and makes the sparkle of lighting more realistic, immersing the player in a truly absorbing atmosphere.

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Video: Spirit of LeMons car-plane and the policeman who built it

Spirit of LeMons car-plane - video screencap

The Internet hasn't made the world any more zany, but it has made it easier for us to share our communal zaniness. That's how it's come about that a newspaper in England has led us to a man in South Carolina who turned a Cessna into a car. The 27-foot Spirit of LeMons is a 1956 Cessna 310 body laid over a Toyota minivan chassis, originally built to compete in the 24 Hours of LeMons race in South Carolina. When the racing was done, its builder, Jeff Bloch â€" a.k.a. Speedycop â€" and The Gang of Outlaws decided to make it roadworthy. After adding paraphernalia like headlights and turn signals, voila, Bloch has a plane-car-thing he can drive on the street.

It isn't the first of Bloch-and-Gang's creations, the amateur mechanic and 17-year veteran of the Washington, D.C. police department having whipped up rides like the fastest street-legal P71-model Ford Crown Victoria in the country.

There's a video on the Spirit of LeMons below, a detailed piece on the creation of the Cessnoyota in Car and Driver, and you can check out Speedycop's site for a five-part video series on just how the thing was built.

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Video: Audi kicks off ad campaign tonight with stirring new spot

Following last week's entertaining and wildly popular Spock vs. Spock video, Audi has come back with a bevy of videos for its new advertising campaign that will begin airing tonight in primetime and on cable.

There are five ads altogether, but the longest one, a 60-second spot titled It Couldn't Be Done, is our favorite by far. Set to a reading of the poem of the same name by Edgar Albert Guest, the commercial chronicles the history of Auto Union Deutschland Ingolstadt from the days of its founder, August Horch, through its many decades of innovation, competition and creativity. Indeed, watching the commercial gave us chills similar to when we first heard the Ram brand's Farmer commercial that aired during this year's Super Bowl.

The other four commercials are shorter 15-second spots that focus on such familiar themes as the company's Quattro all-wheel-drive system, the safety of its vehicles, their style and the company's advances in LED lighting. While less impactful than the longer ad, we think they effectively sound the drum beat of Audi's preferred tag line: Truth in Engineering. Scroll down to watch all five new ads, starting with the 60-second It Couldn't Be Done.

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Study: Distracted driving blamed for 7.3 million red light violations

Stoplight

A new study commissioned by the National Coalition for Safer Roads and FocusDriven has found that roughly 12 percent of red light violations are caused by distracted driving. The research looked at 118 intersections in 19 communities over a three-month time span. After reviewing stoplight camera images from those intersections, researchers found that approximately 12 percent could be attributed to distracted driving. Extrapolating that evidence to the US at large, the two safety organizations claim distracted driving could be responsible for as many as 7.3 million red light infractions per year.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has said drivers running red lights is the leading cause of accidents in urban settings. Combine that with the fact that the National Safety Council has singled out cell phone use as a factor in 21 percent of all crashes and it's easy to see reason for concern. You can read the full press release below for more information.

New Findings Estimate 7.3 Million Red-Light Violations Nationwide Involved Distracted Driving in 2012

National Coalition for Safer Roads and FocusDriven Launch Joint Campaign to Raise Awareness on Distracted Driving and Intersection Safety

WASHINGTON, June 6, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Coalition for Safer Roads (NCSR) and FocusDriven are joining forces to release a new analysis examining the impact of distracted driving on red-light running. With the release of the findings, the two traffic safety organizations are launching a new multimedia campaign effort, Stop Distraction on Red , to raise awareness about distracted driving and intersection safety. As school lets out for summer and millions of cars hit the road for family vacation, it is a timely reminder to put the phones away while driving.

A sample of 118 red-light safety camera intersections in 19 communities was looked at across a three-month period, finding that 12 percent of red-light violations during that time period were caused by distracted driving. From the sample findings it is estimated that 7,336,696 intersection violations across the United States were attributed to distracted driving in 2012.

Distracted driving is a pervasive threat on our roadways, particularly when it comes to cell phone use while driving. According to the National Safety Council, cell phone use is a factor in 21 percent of crashes, and drivers talking on handheld or hands-free cell phones are four times more likely to be involved in a car crash. The new analysis finds that there is a close connection between distracted driving and red-light running, which is the leading cause of urban crashes according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The analysis also looks at the effect of distracted driving legislation on intersection violations by comparing the communities in the sample with strict cell phone bans in place with communities who have more lenient or no laws against cell phone use while driving. Less than 10 percent of red-light violations involved distracted driving in communities that have strict laws against cell phone use â€" compared to more than 16 percent in communities that do not. This finding suggests that strict cell phone bans reduce the risk of distracted driving by nearly 7 percent.

Highlights of the analysis include:

Distracted Driving's Impact on Red-Light Running
Projected number of distracted driving instances that led to red-light running for all 50 states and nationwide
Impact of Distracted Driving Legislation
Comparison of communities that have strict cell phone bans to those that have more lenient or no laws against cell phone use
In addition to release of the new analysis, the joint multimedia campaign effort includes an infographic, video elements and opportunity for partner collaborations. The campaign effort is led by NCSR President Melissa Wandall and FocusDriven Board Member and Survivor Advocate Jacy Good â€" two spokespeople who have been personally impacted by the dangers of red-light running and distracted driving. Wandall lost her husband in a red-light running collision when she was nine months pregnant with their daughter. Good lost her parents in a red-light running collision caused by a cell phone-distracted driver on the day of her college graduation. Good, who was also in the vehicle, has suffered long-term injuries.

For more information on the campaign and a copy of the full analysis, please visit www.StopDistractionOnRed.org.

About the National Coalition for Safer Roads
The National Coalition for Safer Roads helps save lives and protect communities by demonstrating how red-light safety cameras can improve driver behavior. NCSR brings together policymakers, community leaders and concerned citizens in support of red-light safety cameras, advocating for their use in cities and communities across the country. The National Coalition for Safer Roads is a 501 (c)(6) industry trade association. To learn more, please visit www.NCSRsafety.org , follow @SaferRoadsUSA on Twitter and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/SaferRoadsUSA

About FocusDriven
Advocates for Cell-Free Driving is a nonprofit advocacy organization for victims of motor vehicle crashes involving drivers using cell phones. FocusDriven supports victims of cell phone distracted driving and families of victims. Its goal is to increase public awareness on the dangers of cell phone distracted driving by putting a human face on the disastrous impact of the behavior, in order to promote corresponding public policies, programs and personal responsibility. For more information visit www.focusdriven.org , follow @FocusDrivenOrg on Twitter and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/focusdriven .

SOURCE National Coalition for Safer Roads

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Video: Toronto man takes matters into his own hands when traffic light breaks at rush hour

Artur, the 21-year-old impromptu traffic director in Toronto - video screencap

A pedestrian in the middle of a very busy four-way intersection is never a wise idea... apparently unless you are a 21-year-old Canadian named Artur. For reasons only described as "broken red light," the young man, wearing nothing more visible than a light blue top, recently stood his ground and braved cars, trucks and buses as he guided everyone safely through a Toronto intersection.

The most surprising part of the video isn't that Artur emerged unscathed (we really didn't expect him to get run over, as there is a small traffic-free area in the middle of every intersection, assuming drivers are paying attention), but rather the amount of authority he is able to project over motorists while keeping the flow of traffic and pedestrians moving safely. We don't know what he does for a living, but there is a job with a reflective vest and a whistle waiting for him if he wants a change of career. In fact, the Good Samaritan won't even have to wait that long for the special vest â€" a concerned truck driver stops in the middle of the intersection to give him one.

Where were the authorities during all this? You'll have to watch the viral video below and find out.

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Video: Mercedes offering illuminated Three-Pointed Star logo

Mercedes-Benz illuminated Three-Pointed Star - video screencap

Deep, dark, secret confession time: Back well over a decade ago while I was in college, I supported my love for all things automotive in part by publishing basic how-to articles on websites dedicated to the vehicle that I owned at the time, a 1999 Ford Ranger. I never got paid for these pieces, but they eventually gained enough notice that aftermarket companies started sending me products to feature. Much of it was cosmetic, all of it was minimally involved, and some of the modifications now look suspect to my older enthusiast self â€" things like a billet grille insert and tailgate-mounted Lumi Logo, the latter issuing a subtle glow from my otherwise stock-appearing Ford Blue Oval emblem. I kind of laugh at some of it now, but hey, tastes change.

And yet, the more things change, the more things stay the same. Just ask Mercedes-Benz, which has revealed this new illuminated Three-Pointed Star emblem, available as a dealer-installed option on the 2014 E-Class, 2013+ GL-Class, 2012+ M-Class and 2006+ CLS-Class. Mercedes promises additional fitments as well, but no word on whether they'll be installing future examples at the factory. Unlike my Ranger's short-lived Lumi Logo, the illuminated Three-Pointed Star utilizes LED and light tube technology to project a classier look, and theirs illuminates when you use the key fob to unlock the vehicle. If this new bit of illumination takes off for Mercedes, we're guessing you'll see similar riffs from other OEMs in short order... and maybe a second life for the guys who make Lumi Logos.

What do you think, is Benz's new illuminated star cool-ish or foolish? Watch the video below, then have your say in Comments.

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Report: 'Birthplace of GM' now back in company hands [w/video]

Durant Dort Factory One

General Motors has signed a purchase agreement for the Durant-Dort Carriage Company factory in Flint, Michigan for an undisclosed sum. Calling the location "Factory One," GM President of North America Mark Reuss said he isn't sure what will be done with the site yet, but when it's "reborn" it will "be great and it's going to be something we can all be proud of - GM and Flint."

According to Wikipedia, William Durant co-founded the Durant-Dort Carriage Co. with Josiah Dallas Dort in 1886. They leased a factory to build carriages from the Flint Woolen Mills, and the office building across the street is where Durant dreamed up the idea for General Motors - coincidentally, both David Dunbar Buick and Charles Nash, who would open their own respective car companies, worked for the carriage company.

GM will also take over the upkeep of the carriage company's office building. It has been suggested that the boardroom there could become a museum, but publicly all we know is that Reuss says, "We're going to make that area a really special area." Scroll down to watch a video offering a bit of history on the venture, as well as an announcement message from GM's Reuss.

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Video: When a Bugatti Veyron drag races against a Koenigsegg Agera S Hundra, we all win

Koenigsegg Agera S Hundra races Bugatti Veyron

Want to watch two of the fastest production automobiles in the world line up on an open runway to race? Want to see it happen a whole bunch of times?

We thought so. Featuring the well-known Bugatti Veyron in one lane and the less-well-known but just as impressive Koenigsegg Agera S Hundra â€" which is powered by the same 1,040-horsepower twin-turbo 5.0-liter V8 engine as other Agera S models, but with some extra lightweight bits along with lots and lots of gold â€" in the other, you can rest assured that the video down below is full of carbon fiber, booming exhaust notes, turbo whine and asinine acceleration. And, though we won't spoil the results, we think it may be full of surprising victories for those who don't keep tabs on such important figures as power-to-weight ratios and the like...

Now for the disclaimers. Are both drivers aware of how to extract maximum performance from their machines? Are they both in perfect states of tune? Would the result be different from a standing start? Was the fact that the video was shot at Koenigsegg's home track a display of favoritism? Was there a full moon the night before? We have no idea. That said, watching well over 2,000 horsepower line up for a race is nearly always worth watching. So, without further ado, we present the video below.

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Official: HSV unholsters Holden Gen-F lineup [w/video]

Holden HSV Gen-F GTS

Here it is, folks. Right on schedule, Holden has revealed full details on its reborn range of HSV Gen-F models. The bulk of the new HSV machinery will go on sale next month, though the baddest of them all, the supercharged HSV GTS, will reportedly be delayed until September.

The GTS may well be worth the wait, however, as its 430kW supercharged V8 engine (known as the LSA, the engine makes 580 horsepower and 556 pound-feet of torque in the US-market Chevy Camaro ZL1) will make this the fastest Holden ever produced. Lower-level ClubSport models will come equipped with a 6.2-liter LS3 V8 with 317kW of power. A ClubSport R8 sedan with a 325kW version of the engine and a ClubSport SV with a 340kW engine will also be available.

Bodystyle choices range from a sedan to a wagon and, of course, an El Camino a Ute called the Maloo, since this is Australia after all. Long-wheelbase Grange model and an upscale Senator model will be offered with slightly more toned-down exterior looks for those who'd rather blend in to the crowd. Pricing has yet to be announced, but you're welcome to scroll down below to watch a video before checking out all the details from Holden here.

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Rumormill: Radical 2016 Jeep Wrangler suggested by job listings?

Jeep Stitch concept truck - front three-quarter viewWith most inside the industry expecting the next-generation Jeep Wrangler to arrive for the 2016 model year, it makes sense that the automaker would be looking for some choice candidates to to fill program openings as the off-roader goes through its development. A recent ad on Chryslercareers.com suggests to some that the lightweight Wrangler Stitch Concept, revealed just two months ago and shown above, provides some clues about the off-road icon's next iteration.

According to Automotive News, the job descriptions â€" which don't name the model specifically â€" hint that the next-generation Wrangler will benefit from a serious diet. The ads appear to seek those familiar with advanced high-strength steels, hinting that lightweight aluminum body panels may appear on the 4x4. In addition, there are suggestions that Jeep may fit the Wrangler replacement with air suspension, as seen on the Ram and Grand Cherokee, to retain ample off-road clearance yet lower that chassis to improve aerodynamics at highway speeds. The job postings reportedly also lend credence to the idea of a diesel Wrangler.

It seems every bit of the next-generation Wrangler is up for review, as it will be the first time this iconic model is redesigned under Fiat ownership. Questions remain whether or not the Jeep will retain its clip-down hood, easy-to-remove door pins and folding front windshield â€" loyalists expect them, but fuel economy and safety standards may crimp their cases for survival.

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Report: Vehicles stolen from NASCAR driver seized from home of rival racer

NASCAR is reliable as the Bank of England when it comes to delivering drama on and off the track. Today's off-oval headlines involve Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck series drivers Mike Harmon and Jennifer Jo Cobb (pictured above). A couple of weeks ago, on May 15, Cobb reported that someone stole a transporter from Jennifer Jo Cobb Racing and nearly $300,000 worth of vehicles inside. She told police she knew who did it and publicly named Mike Harmon and Sheila Rae Rice as the culprits. Harmon was arrested and charged for the theft, but answered the accusation by saying he was in another city when the theft occurred, he'd "never stolen so much as a piece of bubble gum in my life" and that the truth would come out.

What has come out before the truth, however, are seven vehicles that police removed from Harmon's shop and a storage unit that he owns. The two cars and five trucks are thought to be the vehicles that were in the stolen hauler, but the hauler still hasn't been found. Harmon, out on bond for the theft charge, hasn't been charged for this latest incident and both drivers will be racing against one another this weekend.

As bad as it looks for Harmon, there actually is more to the story. Harmon and Cobb worked together until the end of last year, when he was her team manager on a squad backed by David Novak. According to a piece in Sporting News, Cobb and Novak were romantically involved - a union that also ended at last year - Harmon works for Novak, and Novak and Cobb are in court over the ownership of team equipment. Novak was also charged in the hauler theft with conspiring to steal it, and apparently both Harmon and Novak have said they know where the hauler is but won't tell police. But this has something to do with the reason why Harmon - who says he doesn't have a license to drive an 18-wheeler - keeps saying it wasn't him. Cue the soap opera music, the roar of the engines and a "To Be Continued" title card.

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Official: 2014 Acura MDX priced from $42,290*

2014 Acura MDX - front three-quarter view

The fully redesigned 2014 MDX goes on sale in July, and Acura has now confirmed that its largest crossover will be priced at $42,290 (*plus $895 for destination). Unlike previous MDX models, Acura will offer the 2014 model with both front- and all-wheel drive (the automaker's fantastic Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive, at that), and this base price is for the standard, two-wheel-drive MDX model. At the base level, this new pricing represents a $990 decrease over the outgoing, AWD-only 2013 model.

Four trim levels will be offered across the range, all of which use Acura's direct-injected 3.5-liter V6 engine good for 290 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Standard features include things like push-button start, Acura's fancy new Jewel Eye LED headlights, the next-generation AcuraLink system, an eight-inch multi-function display screen, blind spot monitoring and a premium sound system.

Moving up from there, the Technology package ($46,565) gains 19-inch wheels (18s are standard), forward collision warning, lane departure warning, a color TFT display, rain-sensing wipers and more. The Entertainment Package (bundled into one $48,565 model) adds rear seat entertainment to all of that. At the top end, the MDX Advance model gets unique wheels, remote engine start, 12-speaker ELS premium audio, adaptive cruise control and more. Adding Super-Handling All-Wheel Drive to any of these models results in a $2,000 price jump.

We'll be posting our full First Drive of the MDX later today, so stay tuned for even more details and impressions at that time. In the meantime, click through our massive high-res gallery above to see plenty of pretty new MDX photos.

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