Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Audi, Racing
Can we pause for a moment and give it up for Walter Röhrl? Here’s a racer whose professional career began in 1973, first person to win the World Rally Championship twice, winner of the Pikes Peak race and the title Rally Driver of the Century in Italy and Rally Driver of the Millennium in France, and who simply never gave up the habit of winning or doing fast laps.
Autocar got the man back in the Audi Quattro with which he won the 1984 Rally Monte Carlo - Quattros took the first three positions, in fact - and sent him up the Col de Turini to see if he and the car still had it. Follow the jump to find out, and for a little more context, there’s a video summary of that 1984 rally and a clip of Röhrl discussing and flying up Pikes Peak.
[Source: Autocar]
Video: Walter Röhrl reunited with WRC-winning 1984 Audi Quattro on famed Monte Carlo stage originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Etc., Videos, Fiat, Celebrities, Humor
Lapo Elkann is the grandson of Fiat founder Gianni Agnelli and is said to be heir to several Fiat thrones. While courtside at the Staples Center in Los Angeles watching the Lakers play the Toronto Raptors, Yahoo Sports reports that Elkann interfered in a play that gave LA the win.
With the score tied and only seconds left, the Raptors’ Jose Calderon (pictured) was chasing a ball headed out of bounds when Elkann swiped it away. The Lakers were given possession and Kobe Bryant did his game-winning thing. You can see a recap of the event in the video after the jump, and for you rightfully sore Raptors fans, Elkann later apologized. Thanks for the tip, Jeffrey!
[Sources: Yahoo Sports, Goal.com]
Continue reading Video: Fiat heir makes game-winning assist at Lakers-Raptors?
Video: Fiat heir makes game-winning assist at Lakers-Raptors? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury
Not that there’s anything new to report from last week, when we saw a prototype Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster at the factory in Affalterbach, but if you’re the type that gets giddy over sketches then these are for you.
As sussed out by Auto Bild, these images are said to be German patent office filings for the roadster. Apparently they sneaked out for a stein one evening and were lured back to the home of the Internet. While it’s true that black-and-white drawings can only tell you so much about a car, we’re thinking we might enjoy having the top down on this even more than we enjoy the coupe. Maybe. Either way, you can see it from every angle and judge for yourself in the gallery of images below.
[Source: Auto Bild (translated)]
Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster final form revealed in patent drawings? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Rumormill
Alfa Romeo says it achieved its objectives with the stunning 8C Competizione. Now the brand known for the quadrifoglio wants to make the same kind of splash - only bigger - and rumor has it that it will do so by unveiling an Alfa 4C at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours.
Automobile reports that the 4C will be a “a compact, lightweight sports car concept,” shorn of high-zoot and high-dollar goods like carbon fiber and a Ferrari engine. Instead, it will use a 250-horsepower four-cylinder and could be rear-wheel-drive. Price for the limited-to-5,000 vehicles is being estimated at €50,000 ($70,000 U.S.).
However, while the 8C was busy killin’ it, the rest of the Alfa line has been busy struggling. Sales haven’t exactly pleased parent company Fiat, so the fate of Alfa’s (and, by extension, the the 4C) oft-planned return trip to North America is still in question. Unless and until the Giulietta and its variants prove they are winners and show Fiat the money, it looks like the message for the American Alfa will remain, “Please hold…”
[Source: Automobile]
Rendered Speculation: Alfa 4C coming to Pebble Beach? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Ford, Volkswagen, Fiat
Ex-Volkswagen and Ford executive Laura Soave has gone from creating the events that help sell cars to being the one in charge of selling them. Yes, Fiat has named Soave, the woman who helped put together the 50th Anniversary Barbie New Beetle in charge of reintroducing the Fiat brand to the United States after retreating from North America’s shores more than 25 years ago. Of course, Soave, 37, has also done more substantive things, including being VW’s head of advertising and communications for the company’s large(ish) passenger cars and SUVs. At Ford, Soave held down various positions, including “Brand DNA Manager.”
Soaves’ official title as Head of the Fiat Brand for North America not only installs her at the top of the pyramid, it puts her name on the profit-and-loss bottom line and has her answering directly to Sergio Marchionne. You can read Fiat’s press release after the jump.
[Source: Chrysler]
Continue reading Ex-VW exec named head of Fiat North America
Ex-VW exec named head of Fiat North America originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Etc., Videos, Humor
If there are two indisputable truths in life, they are that a man is not a camel and a Corvette is not a boat. The gentleman above needs to retrieve the C4 Corvette in the shed behind him. The problem is the pool of water between the Corvette and solid ground. His solution is as comical as it is regrettable… and expensive. It did, however, teach us a new way to use the word “yahoo” as a verb. Follow the jump for the fun.
[Source: YouTube via Tampa Examiner]
Continue reading Video: PSA - Do not try to drive your C4 Corvette like a Duke Boy
Video: PSA - Do not try to drive your C4 Corvette like a Duke Boy originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Etc., Safety, Mercedes-Benz
What do you do after hitting success with a trial product? Bring it back and make it bigger, of course. That’s just what Mercedes-Benz has done with its AMG Driving Academy, a program that our own Editor Paukert attended the course last fall at Lime Rock to his great amusement and education.
This year’s courses will put participants in the Mercedes E63 AMG, SL63 AMG, C63 AMG, SLK55 AMG and, new for this year, the SLS AMG gullwing. After working your way up through Basic and Advanced courses, you’re ready for Top Gun testing in the new Pro level course, which means an “intense curriculum” and open lapping at Road Atlanta. Follow the jump for all that goes on this year’s academy including dates and locations, and have a look at what you can be doing in the gallery of high-res photos below.
[Source: Mercedes-Benz]
Mercedes-AMG Driving Academy picks up dates for 2010, adds SLS and Pro-level courses originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Spy Photos, Wagon, Opel, Vauxhall
The Opel/Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer - otherwise known as a wagon or estate - is testing its cold weather chops with minimal camouflage.
Details on the little cargo carrier are slim, but snappers at CarPix tell us that the rear liftgate differs from that on the larger Insignia ST by being separated from the taillights. We are also told that the interior and engine options will be the same as on the five-door hatch, and a spicy GSi model is on the way to fill out the line. It’s too bad no one from Buick will tell us in the States, “Yes, you can have it…” You can check it out from various angles in the gallery of high-res photos below.
[Source: CarPix]
Spy Shots: Opel Astra ST spotted braving the elements originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Aftermarket, Spy Photos, Coupe, Hybrid, Japan, Videos, Hatchback, Honda
A couple of days ago, we wrote about the specs for the 2011 Honda CR-Z, and most commenters weren’t all that impressed. Spoon then let a little bit slip about what it was doing to make the hybrid coupe a little more engaging, but those were merely words. Now we have what is said to be track footage of Japanese tuner Noblesse in one of their tuned CR-Zs at Suzuka, and it might put people in a mind to at least reserve judgment.
It’s all in-car video, and yes, Noblesse is primarily known for their bodykit work, not for actual performance parts. All which makes this footage a little tough to gauge, but there were moments when we did find ourselves thinking, “Hey, this could be something.” And yes, we will only accept fully blacked-out CR-Zs from now on. Follow the jump for some Suzuka lapping, and have a look at it in the gallery of high-res photos below. Thanks for the tip and images, Chris!
[Source: Six Sylinder]
Continue reading Spy Shots: Noblesse takes tuned Honda CR-Z to Suzuka for testing [w/video]
Spy Shots: Noblesse takes tuned Honda CR-Z to Suzuka for testing [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Filed under: Truck, Recalls, Safety, Toyota
Last November, the Toyota Tundra recall to address premature rusting frames was expanded to include trucks from the 2000-2003 model years. That recall, though, only applied to 20 states and Washington, D.C. - those areas where cold weather and road treatments could cause expedited corrosion.
Today, however, The Associated Press reports that the recall has been further expanded to include Tundras from those model years in all 50 states. Toyota apparently hasn’t said how many trucks that means it is recalling, but if you have one of those Tundras, you might wish to give your dealer a call.
[Source: The Associated Press via Google]
Report: Toyota Tundra frame rust recall to go nationwide originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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