Backseat Driver Moves To the Front: MIT's AIDA

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  • Report: Cadillac Converj Approved For Production

    Report: Cadillac Converj Approved For Production November 9th, 2009 By Nelson Ireson's avatar Nelson Ireson, Author, November 9th, 2009 Nelson Ireson 0 Comments

    Report: Cadillac Converj Approved For Production

    The off-again, on-again nature of the Cadillac Converj's production plans cast a pall of uncertainty over any production announcement, but the latest reports out of Detroit say the lights are green for the luxury Caddy hybrid.

    Revealed at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, the Cadillac Converj concept was a highly refined, dramatically styled extended range electric vehicle, with a powertrain much like that found in the Chevrolet Volt. It is now reported to be headed to production in essentially the same form.

    There's no production date yet, but the car was reportedly among the models presented to the GM board of directors on November 2 as part of...

    The off-again, on-again nature of the Cadillac Converj's production plans cast a pall of uncertainty over any production announcement, but the latest reports out of Detroit say the lights are green for the luxury Caddy hybrid. Revealed at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, the Cadillac Converj concept was a highly refined, dramatically styled extended range electric vehicle, with a powertrain much like that found in the Chevrolet Volt. It is now reported to be headed to production in essentially the same form. There's no production date yet, but the car was reportedly among the models presented to the GM board of directors on November 2 as part of the upcoming production plan. Shortly after the concept's debut in January, reports emerged that financial strife within GM had killed the Converj's production hopes, but then after the "new" GM came out of bankruptcy, talk of growing support for the car's construction surfaced. The Converj would certainly inject even more style and excitement into the Cadillac lineup, plus a touch of green flair that's currently absent. Powered by the Voltec electric propulsion system that pairs a 16 kilowatt-hour battery pack with a four-cylinder engine that functions as a generator to send electricity to the car's electric motors, the Converj is rated at 160 horsepower and a potent 273 pound-feet of torque. A top speed of 100 mph was given for the concept car. Styling was the Converj's strong suit at the Detroit Show, with bold exterior lines and massive 21-inch front and 22-inch rear wheels, plus an all-glass roof with built-in solar panels to help power the accessory systems. Two-plus-two seating, a high-end leather and wood interior and futuristic interior styling also helped put the concept car over the top. [Detroit News] Read More

  • NHTSA: Toyota Floor Mat Statement 'Inaccurate And Misleading'

    NHTSA: Toyota Floor Mat Statement 'Inaccurate And Misleading' November 5th, 2009 By Nelson Ireson's avatar Nelson Ireson, Author, November 5th, 2009 Nelson Ireson 7 Comments

    NHTSA: Toyota Floor Mat Statement 'Inaccurate And Misleading'


    This past Monday Toyota released a statement denying any finding of fault on Toyota's part or any defect in its cars in relation to the deadly floor mat safety advisory issued in late September. Today, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is saying that Toyota's information is "inaccurate and misleading" and that there is in fact a defect in the 3.8 million cars affected.

    The Toyota statement included reference to a letter being sent out to customers which Toyota stated, "confirms that no defect exists in vehicles in which the driver’s floor mat is compatible with the vehicle and properly secured."

    The NHTSA minces no...

    This past Monday Toyota released a statement denying any finding of fault on Toyota's part or any defect in its cars in relation to the deadly floor mat safety advisory issued in late September. Today, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is saying that Toyota's information is "inaccurate and misleading" and that there is in fact a defect in the 3.8 million cars affected. The Toyota statement included reference to a letter being sent out to customers which Toyota stated, "confirms that no defect exists in vehicles in which the driver’s floor mat is compatible with the vehicle and properly secured." The NHTSA minces no words in contradicting Toyota's claims, calling the removal of the offending floor mats an interim measure only, and saying that "This remedy does not correct the underlying defect in the vehicles involving the potential for entrapment of the accelerator by floor mats, which is related to accelerator and floor pan design." That leaves no doubt that the NHTSA considers the design of the vehicles and the accelerator pedal both to be defective in this regard. Between the tragedy of a California Highway Patrol officer and his family losing their lives in a borrowed dealership Lexus ES 350 and the farcical zip tie solution issued shortly thereafter, the Toyota/Lexus floor mat recall is quickly becoming one of the most unique events in recent automotive safety history. The problem, according to Toyota, lies with installation and mat selection. The dealer loaner car that was driven to a fiery end in Southern California earlier this year was just such a case, says the company: the wrong mat was installed improperly. So the fix? To install the proper floor mats and do it properly. The letter mailed earlier this week explains that the notice is of a future voluntary safety recall campaign which will see the mats replaced with the right model and installed according to procedure for no charge. Owners had previously been warned to pull driver's side floor mats from affected vehicles and not replace them with any other mats. Affected models include: • 2007 – 2010 Camry • 2005 – 2010 Avalon • 2004 – 2009 Prius • 2005 – 2010 Tacoma • 2007 – 2010 Tundra • 2007 – 2010 ES350 • 2006 – 2010 IS250 and IS350 If you own one of these models, look for the letter in your mailbox over the next couple of days. But be forewarned that the NHTSA isn't buying Toyota's story. [NHTSA, Toyota] Read More

  • Rumors of Next-Gen Entry-Level BMW 1-Series M Car Revived

    Rumors of Next-Gen Entry-Level BMW 1-Series M Car Revived November 4th, 2009 By Nelson Ireson's avatar Nelson Ireson, Author, November 4th, 2009 Nelson Ireson 3 Comments

    Rumors of Next-Gen Entry-Level BMW 1-Series M Car Revived

    About a year ago, BMW's M Division development chief said a 1-Series M car was off the table, and hopes were consequently deflated. But now new rumors of an entry-level M car are back, this time built around the next generation of the 1-Series.

    It's just a rumor with no official confirmation at this point, but the idea is so tantalizing, it's hard not to imagine what such a car might look like.

    A more potent take on the current twin-turbo inline-six found in the 135i, output could be positioned around 330 horsepower. That would give the 414-horsepower V-8 M3 some breathing room, while also putting the new M car's performance a notch above...

    About a year ago, BMW's M Division development chief said a 1-Series M car was off the table, and hopes were consequently deflated. But now new rumors of an entry-level M car are back, this time built around the next generation of the 1-Series. It's just a rumor with no official confirmation at this point, but the idea is so tantalizing, it's hard not to imagine what such a car might look like. A more potent take on the current twin-turbo inline-six found in the 135i, output could be positioned around 330 horsepower. That would give the 414-horsepower V-8 M3 some breathing room, while also putting the new M car's performance a notch above the best of the standard 1-Series. Other modifications, standard to other M treatments, would likely include upgraded shocks and springs, larger, more fade-restistant brakes, unique wheels, a custom aero package, and unique interior treatment. The 2007 135i tii Concept (pictured in the gallery above) could be an example of the direction BMW would take. The point of a 1-Series M car? As the rest of BMW's M range goes further upscale, attractive new, younger buyers to the brand means BMW needs a car positioned accordingly. Expect pricing to start out around the $45,000-$50,000 mark in the U.S., about $5,000-$10,000 below a typical M3, if the project does become reality. It won't get here until the next generation of the 1-Series, however, which puts it at least two, possible three years out. [Autocar] Read More

  • Breaking: Dodge Viper Done By July 2010, Coming Back In 2012 With Fiat Group DNA

    Breaking: Dodge Viper Done By July 2010, Coming Back In 2012 With Fiat Group DNA November 4th, 2009 By Nelson Ireson's avatar Nelson Ireson, Author, November 4th, 2009 Nelson Ireson 7 Comments

    Breaking: Dodge Viper Done By July 2010, Coming Back In 2012 With Fiat Group DNA

    Today Chrysler is revealing its 5-year plan, and one of the biggest bombshells so far is that Dodge will produce only 500 more units of the Dodge Viper. But according to Dodge brand chief Ralph Gilles, those 500 will be the most special Vipers ever made. Once they're done, production will end, no later than July, 2010. But that's not the end of the Viper story.

    The Viper will be back by summer of 2012, according to Gilles. And best of all, perhaps, is that it will leverage some of Fiat's sportscar DNA. In an oblique reference, Gilles mentioned Fiat's sports car-focused brands--hinting strongly at Ferrari--as providing the basis for the...

    Today Chrysler is revealing its 5-year plan, and one of the biggest bombshells so far is that Dodge will produce only 500 more units of the Dodge Viper. But according to Dodge brand chief Ralph Gilles, those 500 will be the most special Vipers ever made. Once they're done, production will end, no later than July, 2010. But that's not the end of the Viper story. The Viper will be back by summer of 2012, according to Gilles. And best of all, perhaps, is that it will leverage some of Fiat's sportscar DNA. In an oblique reference, Gilles mentioned Fiat's sports car-focused brands--hinting strongly at Ferrari--as providing the basis for the revived Viper. No details or specifics were revealed, however. As for what shape the final 500 Vipers will take, Dodge will be hard-pressed to top the Viper SRT10 ACR. That car still dominates production-car Nurburgring times with a 7:22.1--three tenths faster than the much newer Corvette ZR1 and ahead of almost all of its rivals. The same 600-horsepower 8.4-liter V-10 engine is almost a certainty, but an even lighter, more exotic Viper could be in the works. On the flip side, they could go more luxurious with the car, adding an interior that takes the Viper more into the realm of supercar than its current position of street-legal race car. We'll have to wait and see, but it's certainly some of the most exciting news to come out of Dodge in recent months. Read More

  • Video: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Crash Test

    Video: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Crash Test November 3rd, 2009 By Nelson Ireson's avatar Nelson Ireson, Author, November 3rd, 2009 Nelson Ireson 2 Comments

    Video: Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Crash Test

    With all the heat surrounding the first set of test drive reviews of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG gullwing supercar, the video below is highly relevant, but also pretty disturbing if you're a lover of all things sheetmetal. Showing, in full graphic detail, the carnage that results from crashing one of these beauties, the video demonstrates that speed and power weren't the only design considerations.

    Safety was clearly also a primary concern, and though the long, sleek hood deforms badly in the offset frontal crash,it does so to absorb energy and preserve the integrity of the passenger cell-a job it does so well the windshield remains...

    With all the heat surrounding the first set of test drive reviews of the 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG gullwing supercar, the video below is highly relevant, but also pretty disturbing if you're a lover of all things sheetmetal. Showing, in full graphic detail, the carnage that results from crashing one of these beauties, the video demonstrates that speed and power weren't the only design considerations. Safety was clearly also a primary concern, and though the long, sleek hood deforms badly in the offset frontal crash,it does so to absorb energy and preserve the integrity of the passenger cell-a job it does so well the windshield remains intact. Later, an inverted SLS AMG is tested to demonstrate the emergency opening of the gullwing doors in the event that the car comes to rest on its shiny lid post-accident. Besides surviving the two-foot drop onto its roof remarkably intact, the car's doors pop open when triggered and are easily removed. The pop-open doors are presumably a feature that would be activated automatically in the event of a real crash to allow the occupants to escape. [YouTube via RPMGo] Read More

  • Kia Motors To Take On GRAND-AM KONI Sports Car Challenge With 2010 Forte Koup

    Kia Motors To Take On GRAND-AM KONI Sports Car Challenge With 2010 Forte Koup November 3rd, 2009 By Nelson Ireson's avatar Nelson Ireson, Author, November 3rd, 2009 Nelson Ireson 0 Comments

    Kia Motors To Take On GRAND-AM KONI Sports Car Challenge With 2010 Forte Koup

    American road racing isn't as popular as it is in Europe, but it's no less exciting--in some ways, it's even more so, because it's heavily influenced by and involved with grassroots-level efforts. But manufacturer involvement plays a key role as well, and it's always good to see a new car maker get involved with the sport. Today, Kia Motors announces it will enter its first-ever racing efforts on American soil with the campaign of a 2010 Kia Forte KOUP in the GRAND-AM KONI Sports Car Challenge Street Tuner (ST) class.

    Running in the ST class puts the car up against other current production-based race cars like the Acura TSX, BMW 3-series, ...

    American road racing isn't as popular as it is in Europe, but it's no less exciting--in some ways, it's even more so, because it's heavily influenced by and involved with grassroots-level efforts. But manufacturer involvement plays a key role as well, and it's always good to see a new car maker get involved with the sport. Today, Kia Motors announces it will enter its first-ever racing efforts on American soil with the campaign of a 2010 Kia Forte KOUP in the GRAND-AM KONI Sports Car Challenge Street Tuner (ST) class. Running in the ST class puts the car up against other current production-based race cars like the Acura TSX, BMW 3-series, Mazda RX-8 and Volkswagen GTI, among others. The cars, which will be built to full race specification starting from a production-car basis, will be piloted by a pair of very experienced and talented drivers. Andy Lally, three-time champion of the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series, will be in the lead car, and his teammate Nic Jönsson will take the second. Jönsson was the 1990 and 1991 Scandinavian Formula 3 champ, in addition to being a regular in the American Le Mans Series and SPEED World Challenge Touring Car racing. Jönsson is also the co-founder and owner of Kinetic Speed Shop, part of the Kinetic Group which will be working with Kia to deliver the race team. Kia sees this as the next step to push the Kia brand into the public consciousness. “The Forte Koup is the latest chapter in the dramatic Kia brand transformation story, and the decision to enter into the motorsports arena was an easy one to make,” said Michael Sprague, vice president of marketing, KMA. The audience of the GRAND-AM KONI series is also a good match with Kia's intended buyer base, it seems. "We researched every form of auto racing in the U.S. to find a fan base that was aligned with our target demographics, and found GRAND-AM to be the perfect fit,” said Sprague. [Kia] Read More

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