Motor Authority - blog Tag: Video

Some things are too ridiculous, too horrendous or just too stupid to bear full explanation with words alone. The case of one North Toronto BMW X5 driver is a bit of all three, as the video below shows. Epic parking failure alert!

Before you think me too harsh a critic, consider that the driver not only caused what appears to be fairly expensive if not significant structural damage to at least two parked cars.

That driver--well-heeled enough to be at the wheel of an X5 entering a gym parking lot--then backs up, ponders the situation and decides to take off without leaving so much as a note on the windshields of the damaged cars. All that's...

Some things are too ridiculous, too horrendous or just too stupid to bear full explanation with words alone. The case of one North Toronto BMW X5 driver is a bit of all three, as the video below shows. Epic parking failure alert! Before you think me too harsh a critic, consider that the driver not only caused what appears to be fairly expensive if not significant structural damage to at least two parked cars. That driver--well-heeled enough to be at the wheel of an X5 entering a gym parking lot--then backs up, ponders the situation and decides to take off without leaving so much as a note on the windshields of the damaged cars. All that's missing is the sped-up footage being set to the Benny Hill theme song. Parking fail? For sure. Humanity fail? Yes again. But humor fail? Not even close. [YouTube via BoingBoing] Read More

Rolls-Royce is currently developing a brand new model positioned below the Phantom for launch in the second quarter of next year. The new model is the 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost sedan, which is expected to double the number of vehicles built by the ultra-luxury automaker each year and is revealed for the first time in full production trim thanks to this leaked official promo video.

In the short clip, Rolls-Royce product manager Dan Balmer takes us through a short ride in the upcoming model, giving us a clear look at the car ahead of its expected Frankfurt Auto Show debut. While its official reveal is still over a month away, we already have...

Rolls-Royce is currently developing a brand new model positioned below the Phantom for launch in the second quarter of next year. The new model is the 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost sedan, which is expected to double the number of vehicles built by the ultra-luxury automaker each year and is revealed for the first time in full production trim thanks to this leaked official promo video. In the short clip, Rolls-Royce product manager Dan Balmer takes us through a short ride in the upcoming model, giving us a clear look at the car ahead of its expected Frankfurt Auto Show debut. While its official reveal is still over a month away, we already have plenty of details on the new car. We know that it will come with a 6.6-liter turbocharged V-12 engine matched to a ZF 8-speed automatic gearbox. Output at the crankshaft will be rated at 563 horsepower and 575 pound-feet of torque, which makes the Ghost more powerful than the Phantom despite being positioned below it. This will be enough to accelerate it from 0-60 mph in 4.7 seconds and see it easily reach its electronically governed top speed of 155 mph. In keeping with its ‘entry-level’ positioning, the Ghost will be smaller all around when compared to the Phantom. While the Phantom's dimensions stretch to around 5,834 mm, the Ghost will measure in at 5,399 mm in length, 1,948 mm across, and stand 1,550 mm in height. Its wheelbase will stretch 3,295 mm and inside there will be generous seating for five adults. Rolls-Royce has also revealed that the car will make use of the very latest developments in chassis engineering, including a new four corner air suspension system matched to multi-link aluminum front and rear axle geometry. A new chassis management system will also be fitted and is designed to control the car’s anti-roll stabilization and the suspension stiffness to ensure the best possible comfort for occupants. The new air suspension system is so sensitive that it can detect even the smallest of changes. For example, the movement of a single rear passenger from one side of the seat to the other can be detected and system modified to compensate. The on-board computer system reads multiple inputs from sensors around the car - the dampers alone making individual load calculations every 2.5 milliseconds. The air suspension system also incorporates a lift and kneel function, raising or lowering the car by 25mm for those steep driveways. Customer deliveries of Ghost in Europe will begin late in 2009 with pricing from £165,000 (approximately $271,106) excluding taxes and delivery charges. Customer deliveries in other markets including the U.S. and Asia Pacific region will begin from the second quarter 2010. Read More

Every gearhead loves a good burnout, and Jay Leno is the gearhead's gearhead. There's even more to love when the car burning the rubber is a fire-breathing supercar, classic hunk of American iron, or a track car built for the street.

This latest video, from Jay Leno's upcoming show 'The Garage', hits all those marks and more - including a brief flare up that lights Jay himself on fire - so watch it below, and be sure to crank up the volume to hear the cars in action.

Every gearhead loves a good burnout, and Jay Leno is the gearhead's gearhead. There's even more to love when the car burning the rubber is a fire-breathing supercar, classic hunk of American iron, or a track car built for the street. This latest video, from Jay Leno's upcoming show 'The Garage', hits all those marks and more - including a brief flare up that lights Jay himself on fire - so watch it below, and be sure to crank up the volume to hear the cars in action. Read More

Advanced multimedia systems are becoming increasingly central to daily life with modern cars. Especially at the luxury end of the segment, where BMW's iDrive, Mercedes-Benz's COMAND, Lexus's new haptic system with Enform and Audi's MMI all compete for top honors. The latest iteration of Audi's MMI system is now headed to the U.S., and it will make its retail debut in the new Q5.

Like Lexus's haptic interface system and BMW's iDrive, Audi's Generation 3 MMI uses a joystick-like remote input device. The idea seems to be that by placing the control mechanism within easy reach of the driver, the screen itself can be moved closer to the line of... Advanced multimedia systems are becoming increasingly central to daily life with modern cars. Especially at the luxury end of the segment, where BMW's iDrive, Mercedes-Benz's COMAND, Lexus's new haptic system with Enform and Audi's MMI all compete for top honors. The latest iteration of Audi's MMI system is now headed to the U.S., and it will make its retail debut in the new Q5. Like Lexus's haptic interface system and BMW's iDrive, Audi's Generation 3 MMI uses a joystick-like remote input device. The idea seems to be that by placing the control mechanism within easy reach of the driver, the screen itself can be moved closer to the line of sight out the window, improving both the interface and safety of operation. Other new features in the third-gen MMI system include real time traffic information, new 3D map displays, giving perspective to the images on the navigation screen, helping drivers orient their current location and understand what's ahead. Voice input for destinations can be done with whole words rather than spelling out letters as in previous MMI installations, with 'a number of languages' supported. The music and entertainment system is upgraded as well, allowing playback of DVDs with Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, MP3, WMA and AAC format CDs and SD cards, plus Audi's Music Interface application for integrating Apple's iPod into the Audi MMI display. The display itself gets upgraded as well, the 7in TFT unit displaying 800x480 pixels with bright backlighting and strong contrast to help keep from washing out in bright sunlight. Up to 10gb of storage space on the internal 40gb hard drive can be used for music storage. All of the computing is handled by a pair of processors - one 800MHz unit for general processing and a 500MHz digital signal processor. This duo enables all of the MMI systems functionality to operate simultaneously - meaning one could, in theory at least, make a call, use voice input for the navigation system and play music all at once. Finally, a 3D graphics processor from nVidia enables the true 3D display of the nav system and accelerates it to ensure rapid, smooth performance. The all-new Q5 will be coming to the U.S. in March, with the Generation 3 MMI system as an optional add-on. Pricing and further details will likely come with the car's retail debut.Audi Q5Audi Generation 3 MMI Read More

A long series of teasers and spy shots have given hints at what the 2010 Buick LaCrosse would look like, but today General Motors has revealed the whole package just ahead of the start of the Detroit Auto Show. While the design is completely fresh, the car is also "instantly recognizable as a Buick" says Ed Welburn, vice president of GM Global Design. Key styling elements, including the 'sweep spear' side feature, portholes in the hood and the waterfall grille carry over classic Buick traits.

The LaCrosse had originally been planned for a debut at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, but that was pushed back due to cash shortfalls at the end of... A long series of teasers and spy shots have given hints at what the 2010 Buick LaCrosse would look like, but today General Motors has revealed the whole package just ahead of the start of the Detroit Auto Show. While the design is completely fresh, the car is also "instantly recognizable as a Buick" says Ed Welburn, vice president of GM Global Design. Key styling elements, including the 'sweep spear' side feature, portholes in the hood and the waterfall grille carry over classic Buick traits. The LaCrosse had originally been planned for a debut at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, but that was pushed back due to cash shortfalls at the end of the year as GM pulled out of the show entirely. The CTS Coupe was also delayed, though when - or if - it will be shown is still unknown. Development of the car is believed to be on indefinite hold. The LaCrosse, however, has moved to production, and today's reveal shows that the car is still relevant despite the delay. Three trims are available, equipped with a pair of engines. A 3.0L V6 direct-injection unit with 255hp (190kW) and 211lb-ft (286Nm) of torque is available with a six-speed auto in the CX and CXL trims, while a 3.6L direct-injection V6 with 280hp (209kW) and 261lb-t (354Nm) of torque mates with the same Hydra-Matic 6T70 six-speed auto on the sportier CXS. The CXL trim adds leather seats, dual-zone climate control, fog lamps, LED turn indicators and 18in wheels plus optional AWD to the base CX package. The CXS gets similar upgrades, plus a real-time active-dampening suspension with 19in wheels available as an option. Fuel economy is estimated at a moderate 18mpg city/27mpg highway for the 3.0L V6, and 17/26 for the 3.6L unit. Curb weights are 3,948lb (1,741kg) for the base CX, 4,018lb (1,822kg) for the CXL with FWD, 4,199lb (1,904kg) for the CXL AWD and 4,065lb (1,844kg) for the CXS. The all-new LaCrosse is another take on the FWD Epsilon II platform that also underpins the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia and eventually the next-gen Saab 9-5. With its new style, borrowed from the Invicta concept, that 'defines Buick's modern global design', the LaCrosse is prepped to be the brand's new ambassador. Buick is pinning a lot of hope on the new LaCrosse, and has accordingly paid a lot of attention to the little things the company hopes will make it a success. Materials, fit and finish, design elements and features are all intended to provide a world-class experience. "The new LaCrosse is intended to represent modern elegance," said Welburn. "Throughout the design, you experience a balance of contrasts. Both the interior and exterior have been designed with harmony in mind. The exterior balances taut, sculpted lines with sensuous accents and surfaces. Inside, smoked chrome accents, warm wood, first-class leather and materials combine with cool blue ambient lighting to create an inviting environment.” A combination of sensing technologies designed to help provide the driver with a 360-degree view from inside the cabin put the LaCrosse fully into the 21st century, though if Buick's past models are any gauge, the high-tech features will be employed seamlessly behind the scenes, with little direct driver involvement. The end goal of the total safety package, which also includes front, side and roof-mounted head-curtain air bags and StabiliTrak stability and traction-control systems, is to achieve a perfect NHTSA 20 Star Safety Rating. Production will begin mid-year at the Fairfax Assembly facility in Kansas City, Kansas with retails sales to start soon after.2010 Buick LaCrosse sedan2010 Buick LaCrosse rolling footage and interviews Read More

Last week BMW gave us a behind-the-scenes look at the development and testing of the 2010 Z4 roadster, and this week we get a look at what's going on in the X6 M high-performance SUV's development.

The latest video shows BMW's engineers and development team as they mold the coupe-like SUV into a performance car's role. The vehicle itself is revealed in fairly good detail, though some camouflage cladding does remain, especially in the close-up shots. Several details of the powertrain's operation, including the ability to transfer torque front to rear, are also revealed.

Nevertheless, there's enough there to tell that the X6 M is well along... Last week BMW gave us a behind-the-scenes look at the development and testing of the 2010 Z4 roadster, and this week we get a look at what's going on in the X6 M high-performance SUV's development. The latest video shows BMW's engineers and development team as they mold the coupe-like SUV into a performance car's role. The vehicle itself is revealed in fairly good detail, though some camouflage cladding does remain, especially in the close-up shots. Several details of the powertrain's operation, including the ability to transfer torque front to rear, are also revealed. Nevertheless, there's enough there to tell that the X6 M is well along the road to becoming one very capable SUV, and the sound of the engine is convincingly aggressive.BMW M X6 spy shotsBehind the scenes: BMW X6 M testing and development Read More