AOL Autos launches Translogic

Filed under: Videos

Our brethren over at AOL Autos have just launched a new video series called Translogic. Hosted by the always-effervescent Bradley Hasemeyer, who we’re convinced is somehow related to J.D. Roth, and the equally bubbly Caitlin Thompson, Translogic’s goal is to introduce viewers to the cool, techy side of transportation in four weekly installments that add up to one mondo episode per month. You’ll also be able to subscribe to the larger monthly episodes in iTunes once they complete the first four installments.

They’ve already released episodes 1.1 and 1.2, which you can view over at the Translogic website. In the duo’s first two outings, Bradley and Caitlin visit Tesla, get a ride in an Ariel Atom (we know what that’s like), talk to the man behind the Velozzi turbine-powered green supercar, and explore one of our all-time favorite topics: jet packs.

Head on over to check them out and let us know what you think in the comments. The AOL Autos team reads Autoblog everyday just like you and would appreciate some thoughtful suggestions from the community on how to keep improving Translogic.

[Source: Translogic]

AOL Autos launches Translogic originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Apr 2010 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Etc.

It’s every driver’s nightmare: flashing blue and red lights in your rearview mirror. Speeding tickets can strike a blow to anyone’s day. While you pull away from the officer with your ticket in hand, you wonder, “Is going 10 or 15 miles per hour over the speed limit that big a deal?” or “How is much is my insurance going to go up now?” Thanks to our friends at autoinsurance.org, we have answers to those questions and many more in the infographic after the jump.

[Source: Auto Insurance for Autoblog.com]

Continue reading Speeding Tickets: 65 issued per minute and other fun facts

Speeding Tickets: 65 issued per minute and other fun facts originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: By the Numbers

Incentives push Toyota up 41%, Buick sales skyrocket up 76%

Why “Get Off My Back”? Because over the past few months as automakers like General Motors and Ford have begun the process of selling off or shutting down their under-performing brands, it’s become increasingly difficult to determine how well the healthy parts of these companies are doing. These doomed or waiting-to-be-sold brands have weighed each automaker down like a backpack full of lead, so it’s time to get them off their backs.

In this month’s edition of By the Numbers, we’ve included results for General Motors as a whole as well as just its four core brands of Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC, and for Ford we’ve included a separate result that doesn’t include Volvo. This is how these two major American automakers will be viewed going forward, and as you can see, their healthy parts took a shot of steroids in the right cheek during the month of March 2010.

GM’s core brands saw sales collectively rise by 43.3 percent versus March 2009. Likewise, without the weight of Volvo and its 17.6-percent drop in sales last month, Ford Motor Company sales were up 42.7 percent. Chrysler Group, which is essentially the same company selling the same vehicles it was before bankruptcy despite now being run by Fiat, managed to only fall 8.3 percent in sales versus 2009, which for them is practically a win.

Of course, Toyota is the hottest topic amongst last month’s sales results. After watching sales fall in February by 10.1 percent due to all the negative PR surrounding its sudden acceleration recalls, the beleaguered Japanese automaker fought back in March with its most aggressive sales incentives ever. The result: Customers came back and sales for the brand were up 40.5 percent versus the same month last year.

*Brands and companies are displayed in descending order according to their percentage change in volume sales. There were 26 selling days in March 2010 versus 25 selling days in March 2009, so the change in monthly sales volume will be different than the change in the average daily sales rate (DSR) for each brand/company.

UPDATE: Audi added to chart and Saab sales, which are no longer reported by General Motors, corrected.

By the Numbers – March 2010: Get Off My Back Edition originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: New York Auto Show, Coupe, Budget, Performance, Videos

2011 Scion tC: Sneak Peek – Click above for image gallery

Thanks to our anonymous tipster from earlier in the day, we know a lot more about the updated 2011 Scion tC than we did yesterday. Tomorrow we’ll know even more when the new car debuts at the 2010 New York Auto Show. In the meantime, Scion itself has released a video that confirms many of our tipster’s earlier details, as well as provides some unfettered views of the new tC’s design.

The video, which can be viewed after the jump, confirms that the tC will be available with a slightly larger engine at 2.5 liters of displacement compared to the current model’s 2.4 liters. We don’t know yet how much little extra bit of volume will translate into extra horsepower, but the man in the video says there will be more than before (torque too). Add to that confirmation of both a six-speed manual and automatic transmission, improved fuel economy, 18-inch alloy wheels, bigger brakes and an eight-speaker stereo with a USB port.

The video also shows a few fast glimpses of the ‘11 tC’s redesigned exterior, which we’ve captured and gallerized below in the hope that a few seizures from the video’s quick cuts might be prevented. Regardless, It won’t be long until the teasing stops and the 2011 Scion tC greets the world onstage in the Big Apple tomorrow.

[Source: Scion]

Continue reading 2011 Scion tC video brings updated sport compact into sharper focus

2011 Scion tC video brings updated sport compact into sharper focus originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 22:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Concept Cars, China, Hatchback, GM, Electric

Today General Motors unveiled a trio of EN-V concepts that showcase the automaker’s idea for a new global, urban mobility vehicle. Developed in conjunction with its partner in China, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp., the EN-V concepts build on last year’s P.U.M.A. project that was developed with help from the balancing-on-two-wheels experts at Segway. Each of the three EN-Vs, which stands for Electric Networked-Vehicle, sports a different design. Why three? The various shapes demonstrate the flexibility of the electric drivetrain and are supposed to express three different characteristics: Jiao (Pride), Miao (Magic) and Xiao (Laugh). Jiao (the bubbly blue one) was designed in Austrlia by Holden, Miao (the blocky black one) was designed at GM’s studio in California and Xiao (the streaky red one) was designed in Europe.

The EN-V concepts are GM’s solution for the congested urban centers in which we’re all likely to live by 2030. Their all-electric, two-wheel drivetrains take care of the emissions problem. They’re also fitted with the latest GPS, vehicle-to-vehicle connectivity and an array of sensors and cameras that allow fully autonomous driving. The effect of all this tech is less congestion on city roads and the virtual elimination of accidents. Zero emissions, zero traffic jams and zero accidents – the future’s looking bright!

Lithium ion batteries will take each EN-V up to 40 miles on a charge, which isn’t that hard considering they only weigh 1,100 pounds. And since they’re each less than five feet long, up to five times more of them can fit in a parking lot than your average car of today. Do they look as fun to drive as a Porsche Cayman? No, but driving a Porsche Cayman in a congested city center isn’t all that much fun anyway. If we all end up living on top of each other, these little electric runabouts might be the best way to go.

The EN-Vs will be on display at the SAIC-GM Pavilion at the World Expo in Shanghai beginning in May. Feel free to follow the jump for GM’s official press release that talks more about what our crowded future will look like and how the EN-V will help.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading GM unveils three futuristic, urban EN-V concepts

GM unveils three futuristic, urban EN-V concepts originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Mar 2010 10:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Ford

Right now our man Jonny Lieberman is bombing around Southern California in both the 2011 Ford Mustang GT and Mustang V6. Both cars have received major mechanical upgrades for model year 2011 in the form of two new engines: The return of the fabled 5.0-liter V8 for the GT and a new 3.7-liter V6 for the base model.

Jonny’s not allowed to talk about his experience behind the wheel of either car until early next week, but that won’t stop us from giving you a sneak preview of the Mustang V6 and its upgraded motor. The 3.7-liter V6 has already been used in such everyday fare as the Mazda CX-9, Lincoln MKS and MKT. It’s also destined for duty in the 2011 Ford Edge. The 2011 Mustang V6, however, will give this work-a-day engine an opportunity to shine.

Producing 305 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, the Mustang’s version of the 3.7-liter V6 will be the most powerful available. Paired with a six-speed automatic, it will also make for the most fuel-efficient muscle car on the market with a highway rating of 31 mpg. But we’re not interested in fuel economy today. We’re interested in evidence of how much better the new V6 model will be compared to the current one, which has used the 210-horsepower “Cologne” 4.0-liter V6 since 2005. We think the image above is all the evidence we need. Stay tuned for our full First Drive reports of both models early next week.

Mustang V6 burnout shows 305 HP put to good use originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Coupe, Performance, UK

Early this morning, at least in the U.S., McLaren Automotive had a coming out party in its home town of Woking, England. We were there in person and witnessed the unveiling of not only a new sports car company, McLaren Automotive, but also its flagship product: The MP4-12C. This will be the first of an entire range of new McLaren sports cars, and the company best know for its exploits on the F1 race circuit appears to have built a doozy of a supercar to kick things off.

McLaren F1 drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton were on hand at McLaren’s technology center to pull back the sheet on the MP4-12C. The rear-wheel-drive supercar features a mid-mounted 3.8-liter V8 producing 600 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque with an 8,000-rpm redline. Comparisons with the legendary McLaren F1 will no doubt be made, but no performance numbers are available for the MP4-12C yet and, we suspect, their missions in life are not exactly the same. The MP4-12C appears to be a supercar you could live with on a daily basis, more like a Gallardo than a Murciélago (though we suspect it might leave both in the dust).

Since we were there, we also meandered about McLaren’s facilities and captured stills of a bare MP4-12C chassis, rolling bodies on the assembly line, the XP11 prototype that was used for testing and various historical McLaren automobiles that were hanging out in the lobby. Check out the virtual tour of today’s big event in the high-res image gallery below.

Photos by Vlad Savov / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Live Shots: McLaren MP4-12C takes the stage at company unveiling originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Exclusive First Ride: 2011 Ford Edge Sport

Yee-Ha! in a 2011 Ford Edge Sport – Click above for high-res image gallery Manufacturers used to roll out all-new cars every five-to-eight years. Somewhere around the halfway point -…

BMW confirms plans for front-wheel-drive models

If there’s one thing that’s certain in this crazy world, it’s that Ultimate Driving Machines are driven by their rear wheels. Sure, there’s an occasional all-wheel-drive model thrown in for good…

GM gives us sneak peak of next-generation heads-up display technology

GM’s next-generation HUD concept – Click above for high-res image gallery Currently, automakers use head-up displays to project important vehicle information (speed, navigation directions,…

Also of interest:

• AOL Autos debuts official iPhone app for new car shoppers
• Video: Tanner Foust drifts Mulholland Drive in his 600-horsepower Scion tC
• 2011 Ford Mustang V6 to pace NASCAR race at Bristol
• Report: Congressmen spending thousands of dollars a month to lease ordinary vehicles
• Once and For All? Lutz text message reportedly confirms Cadillac Converj is dead
• Reader Spy: Next Ford Explorer with Lincoln-esque grille caught in LA?

Browse our archive of Daily U-Turn posts or subscribe to the RSS feed

Daily U-Turn: What you missed on 3.17.10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Car Buying

AOL Autos iPhone app – Click above to learn more and download

Our brethren over at AOL Autos are having a big day today. They’ve just launched the official AOL Autos iPhone app, which you can download for your iPhone or iPod Touch by clicking here. The cost of the app is zero pesos, so there’s nothing to lose by trying it out.

You’ll want this app if shopping for a new car is in your future. Why? It basically takes all of that research you did at home on your computer and crams it into a mobile app that goes with you. That way you can visit a dealership armed with all of that information about pricing and options at your finger tips.

The app allows you to narrow down your new vehicle search by price, type and style, or you can directly hit the vehicle you want by make and model. Once you’ve found a model, you can pick a trim level and select options, and the app will keep a running tally of what the vehicle costs as you go.

There are also photo galleries for each vehicle, expert opinions, user reviews and the ability to save models that you’ve built and send them to your friends and family. We’ve talked with the AOL Autos folk and are encouraged to hear that this won’t be an app that gets forgotten in the App Store. Their team is already working on updates to improve functionality and add new futures, which will debut in the coming months.

We know what you’re thinking: Where’s an Autoblog app for the iPhone? Good question. First, do us a favor and go download the AOL Autos app. The more popular their app is, the more incentive our bosses have to unleash the Autoblog news flow in an iPhone app for your portable pleasure.

[Source: AOL Autos]

AOL Autos debuts official iPhone app for new car shoppers originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 13:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Motorsports, Toys/Games

Our favorite purveyor of heirloom quality toy cars, Automoblox, has partnered with Highcroft Racing to enter the world of toy (and real) motorsports. The company’s logo will be displayed on the wing of Highcroft’s HPD ARX-01c car being campaigned in the 2010 season of the American Le Mans Series. The season opening 12 Hours of Sebring endurance race occurs this weekend, and Automoblox is celebrating its association with Highcroft Racing by announcing a new model to its extensive lineup of toy cars.

The new car is a Highcroft-branded version of the C9-R sports car. Not only is it decked out for racing duty, but the new model also comes with a color-coordinated version of the heavy duty T900 truck and a trailer to tow the race car to each event. And by “event” we mean the imaginary 12 Hours of Sebring in your living room and the 24 Hours of Le Mans that goes from your spare bedroom into the home office and down the very famous Mulsanne Hallway.

Curiously, these two companies got together when a member of the Highcroft Racing team bought an Automoblox car for his kid. They reached out to Automoblox and found a partner that, according to them, shares their values of “professionalism, precision, high performance and striving to be better than the opposition.” So keep an eye out for the Automoblox logo whizzing by the cameras on the wing of Highcroft’s HPD ARX-01c this weekend at Sebring, and if that gets you hankering for some toy racing of your own, the Highcroft-branded Automoblox racer will be available in April (price TBD).

[Source: Automoblox]

Continue reading Automoblox enters racing on Highcroft wing, debuts new racer

Automoblox enters racing on Highcroft wing, debuts new racer originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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