McLaren ‘not culpable’ over Lowe exit

McLaren should not be held culpable for the departure of technical director Paddy Lowe, according to the team's managing director Jonathan Neale. Lowe, one of Formula 1's most highly regarded designers, will see out his current contract with the team before switching to Mercedes ahead of the 2014 campaign.

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JR Motorsports (Jimmie Johnson And Regan Smith) 2013 NNS Great Clips 200 Race Preview

JR MotorsportsEVENT: Dollar General 200 (200 laps / 200 miles) TRACK: Phoenix International Raceway LENGTH: 1-mile tri-oval DATE: Saturday, March 2, 2013 TV: ESPN2 (Coverage begins at 4:30 p.m. EST) RADIO: MRN (4 p.m. EST) Regan Smith “It’s going to be a lot of fun going to Phoenix with our TaxSlayer.com Chevy. I think these...more»

The article JR Motorsports (Jimmie Johnson And Regan Smith) 2013 NNS Great Clips 200 Race Preview is from Catchfence.

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Spy Shots: Volkswagen Golf Wagon caught completely uncovered

Filed under: Spy Photos, Wagon, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Volkswagen

Without a lot of information to go with them, our camera-toting spies have captured some new images of a Volkswagen Golf wagon variant that is almost completely undisguised. In fact, the one piece of camouflage on the tidy wagon would probably have gone unnoticed to most casual viewers. Look closely at the rear three-quarter view of the car and you'll notice that the apparent taillight clusters are actually fakes - the outline of the real units is faintly visible behind the blue bodywork and the sticker-like fake taillights.

It's a good guess then, that this Golf wagon (called a Golf Kombi by our spy photographer) is a prototype that's pretty far along in the development cycle for Volkswagen. We can't be sure what impact this will have on the company's small wagon offering here in the US, but we'd be pretty surprised if something very like this didn't end up as the next Jetta SportWagen. We might well have more information on that front, after we visit Geneva next week.

Volkswagen Golf Wagon caught completely uncovered originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kurt Busch Back Home in the Desert

Kurt Busch, driver of the #78 Furniture Row/Farm American Chevrolet, talks to his crew chief Todd Berrier in the garage area - Photo Credit: John Harrelson/Getty ImagesNo. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet will carry Beautyrest sponsorship in Phoenix DENVER, Colo. (Feb. 27, 2013) – After being based 11 days in Daytona Beach, Fla. for the season opening...more»

The article Kurt Busch Back Home in the Desert is from Catchfence.

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Lowe to leave McLaren for Mercedes

Paddy Lowe will move to Mercedes after his current contract with McLaren comes to an end later this year. Although Mercedes declined to comment on the situation, sources have revealed that a deal has been agreed in principle for him to switch camps ahead of the 2014 campaign.

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Johnson beats Earnhardt at Daytona

Jimmie Johnson ended his run of poor Daytona 500 results by holding off Hendrick Chevrolet team-mate Dale Earnhardt Jr to win NASCAR's premier race for the second time.

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Report: Chery hires Porsche's Saracoglu as new head of design studio in Shanghai

Filed under: Concept Cars, China, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Chery, Design/Style

The eastward migration of automotive designers bearing European pedigrees continues with Chery Automobile reportedly hiring former Porsche stylist Hakan Saracoglu. The move comes almost a year after Chery hired James Hope from the General Motors Exterior Design Studio in Russelsheim, Germany to be its corporate director of design.

Saracoglu had been with Porsche since 1998, and he showed his abilities on the 997-series Porsche 911 GT2 and GT2 RS, previous-generation Boxster and Cayman and the 918 Spyder. He will join Hope's team with the aim of taking Chery beyond the car it is most known for, the QQ, to a company "standing for value, for design and gaining customer confidence. That's where we want to go." Saracoglu will lead a group of 30 designers to create a range of concepts in various segments.

Chery hires Porsche's Saracoglu as new head of design studio in Shanghai originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Feb 2013 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NASCAR Fan Picks: Top Five Drivers in the Auto Club 400 at Fontana, California (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

NASCAR heads to Fontana, California this weekend with Sprint Cup drivers racing in the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway on Sunday, March 25 at 2:30 p.m. EST. Who will capture the checkered flag? Here is a look at the five drivers who have the best chance at a victory.

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Queens Auto Dealer: Buy a Car, Get Heart Disease

Photo: Clarence Eckerson Jr.
Clarence spotted this ad for a used car dealership in Monday’s Daily News. We can’t decide what we like best about it — the “trade in your shoes for cardiovascular disease” concept or the fact that it includes transit directions to the lot, in Long Island City.
Either way, it’s refreshing to see [...]

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The Ford EcoSport is Just Like a Fiesta, Only Tougher [2013 Geneva Auto Show]

Maneuvering through city traffic may seem like navigating a jungle, or at least it seems that way to car designers and marketing experts. Isn’t it fitting, then, to have harmless subcompacts resemble miniaturized off-roaders? Ford has decided it is, and the brand has now launched its Fiesta-based EcoSport in Europe. Powered by either a 123-hp, [...]

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Colin Monahan Named Marketing Coordinator at Infineon Raceway

Infineon Raceway SONOMA, Calif. (Jan. 4, 2012) Colin Monahan has been named Marketing Coordinator at Infineon Raceway, raceway officials announced....

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Lauda insists Lowe no threat to Brawn

Ross Brawn's immediate future as team principal at Mercedes is not in doubt, insists its chairman Niki Lauda, despite Paddy Lowe planning to switch from McLaren. Speculation that Brawn will be stepping down from his role sooner rather than later grew after it emerged that McLaren technical director Lowe has agreed to join Mercedes at the start of next year.

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Hulkenberg impressed by Lotus

Nico Hulkenberg admits he was impressed by the consistency and duration of Romain Grosjean's Thursday race simulation at Barcelona. The Lotus driver was the only man to complete a 66-lap run , which included one 24-lap stint in which his pace rarely dipped below the 1m29s mark

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Bringing Auto Safety Standards Into the 21st Century

The U.S. auto industry presents a striking paradox. On the one hand, manufacturers design and engineer for passenger safety, incorporating features such as airbags designed to protect passengers even in the face of serious human error.  On the other, manufacturers almost entirely disregard the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and other motorists who foreseeably will be struck [...]

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Move eyes top-five finish with Comtec

Daniil Move is determined to finish in the top five the Formula Renault 3.5 standings after committing to a seventh season in the category with Comtec.

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CB 6 Committee Votes for PARK Smart Zone, Brooklyn Greenway Extension

Image: NYC DOT
Last night, the transportation committee of Brooklyn Community Board 6 voted unanimously in favor of a new PARK Smart zone for Atlantic Avenue, Smith Street, and Court Street, and for a Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway segment connecting Van Brunt Street to Valentino Pier in Red Hook.
The new PARK Smart zone, which Stephen covered earlier [...]

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HAYDEN INJURED IN TRAINING ACCIDENT

DUCATI HAYDEN INJURED IN TRAINING ACCIDENT Thursday Dec 29 2011 Nicky Hayden's winter vacation was marred on Tuesday, December 27, when he broke his left scapula and fractured two ribs while training near his home in Owensboro, Kentucky. Hayden was...

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Denny Hamlin 2013 NSCS SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500(k) Race Preview

Denny Hamlin (FedEx Office) - Photo Credit: Jerry Markland/Getty ImagesRACE INFO: Event: Subway Fresh Fit 500 Date/Time: March 3/1 p.m. MT 2012 winner: Denny Hamlin 2012 polesitter: Mark Martin Distance: 312 laps/312 miles Track Length: 1 mile Banking: 9/11 degrees Track Shape: Oval EXPRESS NOTES: Daytona 500 Recap: Denny Hamlin led three times for 33 laps...more»

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Official: Audi builds 5-millionth vehicle with Quattro

Filed under: Audi, Earnings/Financials

Quattro, the trademark name Audi has put on its all-wheel-drive system engineered for passenger vehicles, recently celebrated its five-millionth installation. The driveline has been offered in more than 140 different vehicles since its introduction more than three decades ago.

The all-wheel-drive technology made its world debut at the 1980 International Geneva Motor Show, beneath the floorpan of the Quattro Coupé, a low-volume two-door. It didn't take consumers long to embrace Audi's innovative approach. While most four-wheel-drive systems at that time utilized heavy transfer cases or second cardan shafts, Quattro was virtually tension-free, light, compact and efficient. Most importantly, enthusiasts found it was especially suitable for sports cars.

Today, the automaker offers Quattro on its full line of passenger vehicles and it is unquestionably successful (the technology enjoyed a 43 percent take rate in 2012). On models with transverse-mounted engines (A3 and TT), Audi uses an electronically controlled multi-plate clutch with hydraulic actuator. Under normal conditions, the clutch sends power almost exclusively to the front wheels (if wheel slippage occurs, up to 100 percent of the torque may be sent to the rear). Vehicles with engines mounted longitudinally (A4, A5, Q5, etc...) use a self-locking center differential sending 40 percent of the engine torque to the front axle and 60 percent to the rear under normal conditions (it is able to send the majority of the power to the axle with better traction when needed). The highest-performing Quattro systems use torque vectoring to further improve cornering grip and speeds.

Continue reading Audi builds 5-millionth vehicle with Quattro

Audi builds 5-millionth vehicle with Quattro originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Feb 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wait Till Next Year

Driver Tony Stewart poses during portraits for the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Daytona International Speedway on February 14, 2013 in Daytona Beach, Florida. - Photo Credit: Nick Laham/Getty ImagesEarly Crash Dashes Stewart’s Daytona 500 Hopes Date: Feb. 24, 2013 Event: 55th Daytona 500 (Round 1 of 36) Series: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Location:...more»

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Official: GM to make most cars LTE hotspots for 2015

Filed under: Technology, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM, GMC, Infotainment

General Motors isn't the first automaker to deliver in-car Internet access, but a proposed plan announced today could make the technology more widespread than any of its competitors have offered. By the 2015 model year, most Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac and GMC products in the US and Canada will offer 4G LTE mobile broadband access. Initially, GM will just be pairing with AT&T to deliver this service, but additional carriers will be revealed in the future.

Current in-car Wi-Fi hot spots are limited to 3G, but GM says that 4G LTE is 10 times faster than 3G service and will allow for full Internet access, including streaming video for entertainment as well as services like real-time traffic updates and navigation driving directions. There is also no need for a paired smartphone with this new system, which should make it easier to use, and GM and AT&T will also be working together to develop new apps for customers.

Buyers can expect to start seeing 4G LTE in their cars starting next year, and GM is already planning to expand the service to other global markets as well. All of the information from GM's announcement is posted in a press release below.

Continue reading GM to make most cars LTE hotspots for 2015

GM to make most cars LTE hotspots for 2015 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Feb 2013 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RAB Racing Reinstates John Wes Townley: NASCAR Fan Reaction (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

On March 23, RAB Racing announced that driver John Wes Townley has been reinstated and will be able to compete at the Camping World Truck Series Kroger 250 on March 31. Townley was officially placed on probation by NASCAR on March 22 because of a previous DUI arrest.

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Report: Bertone bringing one-off Aston Martin Rapide shooting brake to Geneva

Filed under: Concept Cars, Performance, Wagon, Geneva Motor Show, Aston Martin, Specialty, Design/Style, Luxury

Way back in 2004 Bertone created a one-off concept called the Bertone Jet 2, a shooting brake based on the Aston Martin Vanquish. For this year's Geneva Motor Show the Italian styling house is doing it again, but this time it has used the Rapide to create the Jet 2+2. Employing a model whose lines were more readily made for shooting brake adaptation has resulted in a vehicle that we find far better looking than its predecessor.

There's a 470-horsepower V12 under the hood, a bespoke interior with two-tone leather, a stretched and heightened rear quarter for more headroom and luggage room, and fold-flat rear seats. An LED strip connects the taillights across the wide tailgate.

An unnamed client commissioned the build, and it also happens to be another candle on Aston Martin's centenary birthday cake as well as commemoration of the sixty years since Bertone and Aston Martin first worked together. It will take the floor in Geneva along with the Rapide S.

Bertone bringing one-off Aston Martin Rapide shooting brake to Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Feb 2013 09:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Will Fiat cap performance of 2014 SRT Viper ACR out of fear for Ferrari?

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Racing, SRT

Motor Trend has got word that an SRT Viper ACR - the acronym for American Club Racing - is headed for a reveal in 2014. However, at the same time as SRT is working to maximize the model's performance, the report says there's an internally imposed performance ceiling on at least one aspect of the super coupe that will keep it from being all the Viper it could be.

Having watched other super sports cars go super fast on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires - MT cites the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 as the prime example - SRT is looking to Pirelli for a set of rubber that improves on the Viper's P-Zero Corsas. Where the Viper ACR will be restrained is its power-to-weight ratio; rumor is that bosses at parent company Fiat have decreed that the Viper cannot outdo the 5.2-pounds-per-horsepower of the Ferrari F12 Berlinetta. It's also rumored that Ferrari doesn't want the Viper to have more power than the 731 horsepower of the F12, even though SRT has said it would be "relatively easy" to increase output from the current 640 hp.

The last Viper ACR didn't get more oomph under the hood, so there should be plenty of ways to navigate Ferrari sensitivities. However, the last Viper club racer did offer a Hardcore Package that dropped weight by 40 pounds. If the specific power-to-weight number really is a bright line for the coupe's development, it will be interesting to see if such a package is offered again and how SRT manages it.

Will Fiat cap performance of 2014 SRT Viper ACR out of fear for Ferrari? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Feb 2013 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Earnhardt to start Duel from back

Dale Earnhardt Jr will move to the back of the field for the start of his Daytona 500 Duel on Thursday after an engine failure in Wednesday's practice session. The Hendrick Chevrolet driver had secured sixth on the grid for his Duel, which will decide the starting order for Sunday's main race. "I'm sure there is some logical explanation as to what happened," Earnhardt said, "but we'll just put a new one in and start at the back of the qualifier and race up through there." Reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski suffered a less serious delay when a fuel pump problem on his Penske Ford sidelined him for some of first practice.

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Crockett capitalizes on traffic for ASCS Victory

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Launch Timing for Mercedes-Benz 2013 Calendar-Year Debuts: New Diesels, Black Series, S-class, More

Mercedes-Benz is unleashing quite a few new models and fresh variants of a few existing vehicles in 2013, and we now have specific on-sale dates for all of them. (Hit the links for full info on each model.) Instrumented Test: 2013 Mercedes-Benz GLK350 / GLK350 4MATIC First Ride: 2013 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG 4MATIC Sedan Instrumented [...]

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Report: Mass. plow driver fired after intentionally covering cars, posting vid to YouTube [w/videos]

Filed under: Government/Legal, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Videos, Work, Humor

Just over two feet of snow fell on the Boston area during a massive Nor'easter earlier this month, and while many citizens relied on public services to dig out of the snow, one snow plow driver apparently had a different idea about how to handle the situation. According to reports on the Lowell Sun and Boston.com, a plow driver named Mark Hussey posted a profanity-laced video on YouTube showing him laughing and expressing his enjoyment as he intentionally buries cars and blocks driveways.

In parts of the video, some cars are already just white lumps along the side of the street, but Hussey does his best to make sure they are even harder to get to. He even starts off by pushing back snow as one person attempts to clear their sidewalk and can do nothing but watch his Mack truck rumble by. According to reports, Hussey was not an employee of the city but worked for company contracted by the city to clear the snow, and, according to his statements, he made quite a bit of money doing so. We're not sure he's laughing as loud now, though, as it appears he's been fired for his transgressions.

Hussey's video and a related news reported are embedded below, but before you fire them up to watch, note that he uses a lot of explicit, Not Safe For Work language to describe his activities.

Continue reading Mass. plow driver fired after intentionally covering cars, posting vid to YouTube [w/videos]

Mass. plow driver fired after intentionally covering cars, posting vid to YouTube [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Feb 2013 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fans injured in Daytona crash

A last-lap crash in Saturday's NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway has caused injuries among the crowd after the front end of one of the cars was torn off and pierced the debris fencing. In the race to the finish line in the 300-mile event, reigning Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski and Regan Smith clashed at the front. This triggered a multi-car pile-up behind in which series debutant Kyle Larson's car took off and struck the catch fencing, ripping away the entire front end of his car

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Hendrick Garage: 1, 2 Daytona Finish

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Alonso sure Ferrari capable of title

Fernando Alonso sees no reason why Ferrari cannot fight for the Formula 1 title this year after his first day of running in the new Ferrari F138.

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Hamilton: rivals’ faith too generous

Lewis Hamilton believes rivals are wrong to suspect that he and Mercedes will be frontrunners in the 2013 Formula 1 season.

Dan Gurney Mack Hellings Kevin Paul Lepage Oscar González Rupert Keegan Carl Michael Edwards III Kevin Harvick François Hesnault

Travis Pastrana Prepares for an Epic Ride in 2013 with Roush Fenway Racing

Travis Pastrana - Photo Credit: Justin Edmonds/Getty Images for NASCARDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 20, 2013) – The neon yellow stripe on the back of Travis Pastrana’s No. 60 Roush Fenway Racing Ford Mustang may blend in with the bright paint scheme that adorns the car, but little else about the action sports star blends in....more»

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Despite “Fix-It-First” Rhetoric, Obama Still Promoting Highway Expansions

When it comes to transportation funding, President Obama always seems to say the right thing. The latest example was his State of the Union address, where the president promoted a fix-it-first approach to infrastructure spending. On Wednesday, the White House fleshed out the idea with a proposal to direct 80 percent of a $50 billion [...]

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2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel V-6 First Drive: Like Diesel? You’ll Dig this GC

If Jeep’s Grand Cherokee didn’t have enough iterations—including gas V-6 or V-8, rear- or four-wheel drive, fire-breathing SRT, etc.—the model’s 2014 refresh brings with it a 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V-6. The update also includes new exterior lighting, re-sculpted front and rear styling, and an updated interior. READ MORE ››

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Breaking: Frightening Daytona crash leaves at least 11 fans injured [w/video] [UPDATE]

Filed under: Motorsports

A truly horrifying crash at Saturday's Daytona race has left at least 11 NASCAR fans injured. According to the Associated Press, large chunks of debris landed in the grandstands after a car flew into the fence during a multi-car crash just before the final lap of the race.

The awful mess started when Regan Smith's car was turned sideways as he was coming into the checkered flag. This caused many other cars to crash, sending Kyle Larson's No. 32 car into the fence that separates the track from the grandstands. The car itself was damaged quite badly, the entire front end torn off and the burning engine wedged in a hole in the fence.

Driver Tony Stewart slid past the wreckage to take the win at the Nationwide Series race, but skipped the usual post-victory celebration. "As much as we want to celebrate right now and as much as this is a big deal to us, I'm more worried about the drivers and the fans that are in the stands right now because that was ... I could see it all in my mirror, and it didn't look good from where I was at," Stewart told a reporter.

A spokesperson from Volusia County told the Associated Press that six people with serious injuries were taken by ambulance to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach, saying that those victims "met the condition of trauma patients." No official word has been given on the condition of other victims, nor has a final injury count been released.

This tragic event will no doubt put a dark cloud over Sunday's Daytona 500 race. Scroll down to see a video of the horrific crash.

UPDATE: A day after the accident, the injury toll has been raised to 33, with two of the victims said to be in critical condition. Check out this Associated Press video report on USA Today and this WOFL Fox 35 report.

Continue reading Frightening Daytona crash leaves at least 11 fans injured [w/video] [UPDATE]

Frightening Daytona crash leaves at least 11 fans injured [w/video] [UPDATE] originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 23 Feb 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Citroën Shows Off Updated C3 Hatchback, C4 Picasso–Previewing Technospace Concept [2013 Geneva Auto Show]

Next to its bizarrely cool Hybrid Air concept, Citroën has announced it will debut a refreshed C3 hatchback and a new concept previewing the next-generation C4 Picasso at the 2013 Geneva auto show. For those who are unfamiliar with French cars, allow us to translate that last bit for you. The C3 is a subcompact, [...]

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Can Cargo Bike Delivery Flourish in NYC?

In a city as dense as New York, with gridlocked streets and need-it-now demands, bicycle delivery serves a vital role. The city keeps its stomach full with pedal-powered food delivery, while couriers, whose numbers have dwindled as communications technology has advanced, still ply the streets of Midtown.
Cargo bikes are increasingly common in New York, yet remain [...]

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2013 NSCS Daytona 500 Final Practice Session Speeds

2013 Dale Earnhardt Jr in Car - Photo Credit: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty ImagesPracticing for the 55th annual Daytona 500 is done, and all that is left for the drivers is returning Sunday to see who will be the one to raise the Harley J. Earl Trophy in victory lane at the conclusion of “the Great American...more»

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MOUNTAIN VIEW RACING TEAM REPORT NHRA Nationals

The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Another final round for Nobile in Las Vegas LAS VEGAS (October 29) - still one week shy of his 21st birthday, Mountain View Racing Pro Stock driver Vincent Nobile has never...

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NSC: 36,200 Americans Killed in Traffic in 2012, First Increase in 7 Years

After seven years of declines, traffic deaths in America rose again in 2012, according to a preliminary estimate by the National Safety Council.
More Americans lost their lives in traffic in 2012 than in 2011, reversing recent trends. Image: Kansas City Legal Examiner
An estimated 36,200 people were killed in traffic collisions last year — a five percent increase [...]

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2014 Volkswagen XL1: The World’s Most Fuel-Efficient Production Car [2013 Geneva Auto Show]

The Volkswagen Group has absorbed a lot of flak from the environmentally minded for its alleged sins against Mother Earth. Those charges are exemplified by its lineup of ultra-luxurious and ultra-thirsty Bentley, Bugatti, and Lamborghini offerings, as well as the heavy, powerful, and—for now—not-for-American-consumption Phaeton. But there is a decidedly green side to the company, [...]

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SEAT Leon SC: SEAT’s Sportiest Offering Debuts for Europe [2013 Geneva Auto Show]

A half year after the unveiling of the third-generation SEAT Leon, VW’s struggling Spanish affiliate launches its first-ever three-door derivative, the SEAT Leon SC. The abbreviation stands for Sports Coupé—and to prove its sporting aspirations, the Leon SC comes with a shorter wheelbase and a more attractive rear end, which slightly reminds us of the [...]

Tony Gaze David Hampshire Jimmie Kenneth Johnson Geki Narain Karthikeyan Kenny Dale Irwin Jr James Christopher McMurray Maurício Gugelmin

Susie Wolff keen to add GT campaign

Susie Wolff is hoping to race in sportscars this year alongside her role as a Williams Formula 1 development driver . The 30-year-old raced in the DTM from 2006-12 and is set to explore opportunities in GT racing for this season. Wolff decided to walk away from the DTM prior to her Williams development driver role being expanded, but she is keen to race competitively this year.

Bruno Giacomelli Graham Hill Leo Kinnunen Parker Kligerman Paco Godia Hubert Hahne Oscar Alfredo Gálvez Nicolas Kiesa

Solberg commits to full RX season

Petter Solberg has confirmed he will contest the full European Rallycross Championship in a Citroen DS3 Supercar run by his own team. The 2003 World Rally champion announced last month that he would focus on rallycross this season, but had initially only committed to the opening round at Lydden Hill as well as the Norwegian and Swedish events

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NASCAR Royal Purple 300 Schedule for March 24, 2012 (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

The NASCAR Royal Purple 300 race is scheduled for Mar. 24, 2012, at the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif. Qualifications will be at 1:30 p.m. EST with the actual race planned for 5 p.m. EST on Mar. 24. In 2011, Kyle Busch won the Royal Purple 300 while Carl Edwards was the pole...

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Zandvoort Masters hopes for new date

The Masters of Formula 3 at Zandvoort is closing in on a new date of July 7 for this year's event. Organisers were forced to look for a new fixture after the F3 European Championship date at the Norisring was switched to July 13/14, clashing with the category's Dutch blue-riband event.

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Hamilton takes pole position for F1 Malaysian GP (PA SportsTicker)

By CHRIS LINES AP Auto Racing Writer

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2013 World Tour of iRacing: Daytona 500

Round Three of the 2013 World Tour of iRacing – the Daytona 500 – is slated for Friday, February 22 at 9 PM Eastern (02:00 GMT Saturday, February 23) and Saturday, February 23 at 2 PM Eastern (19:00 GMT). The open set-up event features the Class A Chevrolet Impala for 200 laps of the Daytona International Speedway (daytime). Practice and qualifying begin on Tuesday, February 18 and will be open all week prior to the online race, with qualifying sessions consisting of two green flag laps starting every hour at 45 minutes past the hour minutes. Race splits will be set by iRating, order on the grid will be based on qualifying time. There will be 43 cars per split with full course cautions, and the top split will be [...]

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Video: Chrysler 100 hatchback caught cruising around Santa Monica

Filed under: Videos, Hatchback, Chrysler

A coming hatchback said to be called the Chrysler 100 has been caught on video traipsing around Santa Monica by Autoblog reader Zach Dillman. Still wearing the scrapyard assemblage of Alfa Romeo Giulietta body panels as it was when spy photographers began capturing it last summer, its arrival date is still a question mark: some outlets have reported that it will go on sale this year, others have said it won't be in showrooms until 2016.

In fact, quite a few questions remain. Based on Fiat's Compact US Wide (CUSW) platform that supports the Dodge Dart and expected to be about the same size, the 100 is thought to be a small premium hatchback that will be priced above the Dart and below the Chrysler 200, with the idea that it can challenge the Ford Focus and Hyunda Elantra at the value end and the Buick Verano and Acura ILX at the premium end. Word is that there will be no sedan version.

It looks like there'll be plenty of gewgaws inside, with buttons for Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Warning and a button to toggle the traction control.

Some rumors say the 100 will only get four-cylinder engines, other rumors suggest it could get a V6 to justify the premium aspirations and the price bump over the Dart, and an "E85 Only!" sticker spotted in one of the mules last summer has other rumormongers wondering if it will get a ethanol-capable version of a new powerplant that isn't the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. It looks like there will be paddleshifters for getting through the gears, and front-wheel drive is the easy bet, all-wheel drive the long-shot shocker.

At the end of the video, a second mule gets spotted in Santa Monica, this being one of a legion of jacked-up Franken-Giulietta mules that's been seen around the country for a while now. It could be either a new Jeep Liberty mule or a replacement for the Compass/Patriot. See for yourself in the videos below.

Continue reading Chrysler 100 hatchback caught cruising around Santa Monica

Chrysler 100 hatchback caught cruising around Santa Monica originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Feb 2013 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Williams sure exhaust outlet is legal

Williams technical director Mike Coughlan is certain that the vane in the FW35's exhaust outlet is legal despite similarities to a controversial part on the Caterham. The Caterham CT03 features a vane that some rival outfits - and Coughlan - believe to be illegal even though the team itself is adamant it is permitted

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Photos: 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Cars Paint Schemes

PHOTO CREDIT: NASCAR MEDIA

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Fontana Tough to Watch but NASCAR Drivers Love to Race: Fan Opinion (Yahoo! Contributor Network)

NASCAR Sprint Cup returns to the West Coast to race the two-mile Auto Club Speedway in Fontana March 25. Fontana is a double-edged sword for NASCAR. The track is a favorite for drivers because it is smooth, wide and racy but for fans it is a long, drawn out race that usually ends...

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Kyle Busch, No. 54 Monster Energy Toyota Camry Daytona International Speedway Preview

Kyle BuschMOORESVILLE, N.C. (Feb. 19, 2013) – Kyle Busch is back under a familiar roof with the Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) team, a shop where he earned 39 Nationwide Series victories along with three Owner’s Championships and a Driver’s Championship between the years 2010 and 2008. Although sporting familiar colors in...more»

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Yelloly returns to GP3 with Carlin

Nick Yelloly will return to GP3 this season with Carlin after a year in Formula Renault 3.5.

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Moustakas & Humpe Master Darlington

Week Two of the NASCAR iRacing.com Class C Series (open setup) is arguably the most difficult week of the season. The series pays a visit to the track too tough to tame in Darlington Raceway for some beating, banging, and undoubtedly, some arguing. Over 400 sim racers took the green flag for at least one race during the week and it’s safe to bet that a majority of them weren’t happy with their results. Even though a lot the racers probably weren’t happy, there were at least two people happy after a long, long week of online racing. Last season’s champion Kenny Humpe (Ohio) returned to form this week as he took the checkered flag in dominating fashion over teammate Nick Neben (Plains) by 18.087 seconds in a caution free [...]

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Caterham: Change of line-up is healthy

Caterham chief Cyril Abiteboul believes a fresh start with the team's driver line-up is healthy, despite Charles Pic and Giedo van der Garde lacking predecessors Heikki Kovalainen and Vitaly Petrov's experience. Last year's Caterham team-mates had seven years in Formula 1 between them, whereas the 2013 line-up can only boast Pic's single season at Marussia.

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2013 NNS DRIVE4COPD 300 First Practice Session Speeds

Sam Hornish Jr (Alliance) in Car - Photo Credit: Jared C. Tilton/Getty ImagesThe 2013 NASCAR Nationwide Series teams took to the high banking Daytona International Speedway Thursday morning to get their season underway, and with a lap speed of 191.836 mph, it was Sam Hornish Jr., who was the fastest during the first DRIVE4COPD 300...more»

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Webber backs new DRS restrictions

Mark Webber has welcomed the adjustment to DRS regulations for the 2013 Formula 1 season, saying drivers had long felt the system's free use in practice was pointless. Until this year, the straightline speed-boosting device could be utilised freely in practice or qualifying before being restricted to its designated zones in the race. This meant teams had to optimise their set-ups around its ample use in qualifying even though this was not possible on Sundays

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Video: NASCAR Brand Campaign – Twist

There are two-sides to everything. See how in the world of NASCAR, you should expect the unexpected – an untimely finish, a race that turns to chaos, and a split second that changes

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Citroën Debuts Oddly Brilliant Hybrid Air Powertrain, Production Version Coming [2013 Geneva Auto Show]

Gasoline-electric hybrids have floundered near-dead in the waters of Europe, not least because of their added expense or fuel-economy that fails to better that of the small, diesel-powered cars that populate the Continent. But Citroën might have a something on its hands that could change Europeans’ perception of hybrids, and it’s—drum roll, please—a hybrid. It’s [...]

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