2012
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MINI has been a part of the Life Ball charity event since 2001, and a string of designers have given various MINI models a high-profile make over. Through the years, MINIs have been restyled by the likes of Diesel, Versace, DSQUARED², and The Blonds for Katy Perry. This year, a MINI Roadster was handed over to Franca Sozzani, the chief editor of Italian Vogue, who opted to apply a floral theme to the open-air MINI. Considered to be the most influential woman in the Italian fashion scene, Sozzani even drives a MINI herself. Of her work on this year’s Life Ball car, Sozzani said...
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2012 Tesla Model S Delivery Date Announced: June 22
Palo Alto-based electric car company Tesla has announced the first examples of its upcoming 2012 Tesla Model S will reach customers on June 22. Tesla revealed a few weeks back that the first cars would arrive in June, and the electric sedan would deliver up to 350 miles of range at average speeds...
Antony Ingram -
2012 BMW 3 Series Sedan, 2013 Acura RDX Get IIHS Top Safety Pick Awards
Both the 2012 BMW 3 Series sedan and the 2013 Acura RDX crossover have earned "Top Safety Pick" designations from the IIHS.
Kurt Ernst -
One-Two Finish For Audi At 2012 Nürburgring 24 Hours
An Audi R8 LMS ultra was driven to overall victory at the 2012 Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race.
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Big Muscle Shows Off Modern Family Haulers: Video
The family hauler has come a long way since the days of the Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser and the Ford Country Squire. In fact, big station wagons are all but relics of the past, replaced in popularity by SUVs and crossovers. That’s not to say the wagon is dead, and those with the need to get...
Kurt Ernst -
Slow-Selling 2012 Lexus HS 250h Hybrid Killed, Very Softly
Beware, green luxury shoppers: If you like the Lexus HS 250h hybrid sedan, get one now—and you might even score the rare discount on a Lexus. Lexus has confirmed that the HS 250h is no more. And it's evidence that even Lexus can make product missteps, and that not every hybrid that Toyota or...
Bengt Halvorson -
A lighter and more aerodynamic Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo race car has been developed for the 2012 season of Maserati’s single-make race series, the Trofeo MC World Series.
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Buick Engineers Seek Second Regal GS Open Road Rally Victory
Last September, a pair of Buick Regal GS engineers drove the car to a class win in the Silver State Classic Challenge, which allows drivers to compete in various speed-defined classes on closed public roads. Victory isn’t as simple as getting from point A to point B as quickly as possible;...
Kurt Ernst -
Lexus Fan Tony Hawk Uses Skateboard To Jump Over LFA: Video
Pro skater Tony Hawk was recently loaned a bright yellow 2012 Lexus LFA for his birthday, which he ended up using for a very daring stunt.
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Ferrari Recalling 2012 California And 458 Italia Models
If you've recently purchased a 2012 Ferrari California or a 2012 Ferrari 458 Italia in the United States, heads up: Ferrari is issuing a voluntary recall for 35 California and 45 458 Italia models. At issue is a potential crankshaft manufacturing defect, which could cause vibration ultimately...
Kurt Ernst -
Tesla To Begin DOE Loan Repayment In December
If you’re used to nothing but doom and gloom surrounding new electric car start-ups, here’s a rare bit of good news: Tesla CEO Elon Musk has advised shareholders that deliveries of the Model S sedan will begin in June, one month ahead of schedule. Perhaps even better news is that Tesla...
Kurt Ernst -
Tesla Model S To Arrive In June, Deliver Up To 350 Miles Highway Range
While you have to read through the dreamy enthusiasm and salesmanship of Elon Musk any time he opens his mouth--or sets words on a digital page--about his various projects, the numbers appear to back him up on his latest claims about the upcoming Tesla Model S. The first of what we'd term "real...
Nelson Ireson -
What was meant to be a promotional effort for Ferrari in China has turned out to be a public relations disaster. The stunt saw a Ferrari 458 Italia lifted by crane to the top of a 600-year old city wall in Nanjing, the former capital of China. A dealer for the brand then proceeded to do donuts with the car on top of the wall, leaving burnt tire residue engrained in the ancient surface. The whole stunt was televised on state television, as well as on the Internet, angering thousands of viewers. To make matters worse, authorities have been unable to remove the burnt rubber from the wall. CNN...
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Patrick Long's Morning Commute Is Quicker Than Yours: Video
Patrick Long’s job requires him to wear a suit to the office. It’s not a three-piece suit, but it is a three-layer suit, since Long works as a factory racer for Porsche. In fact, Long is the only American who currently derives a paycheck directly from Porsche for his lap times. Long may...
Kurt Ernst -
Rolls-Royce Explains The Phantom Series II: Video
Rolls-Royce buyers don’t like change, yet every product has to evolve to stay current. When dealing with a product like Rolls-Royce’s flagship Phantom, the trick is to change the car enough to be different, yet not so much as to alienate brand loyalists. When penning the Phantom Series...
Kurt Ernst -
Mission To Save The Last Saab 9-3 Is A Success
Last week we brought you details about a plan to save what could potentially be the last Saab 9-3 ever built. The plan, organized by a group of Saab loyalists at SaabsUnited, was to raise enough money so that the final 9-3 could be purchased and then donated to the official Saab Museum in...
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
Fisker Karma Blamed For Fire At Houston Home
Officials are currently investigating whether a Fisker Karma was the cause of a fire at a home in Houston, Texas recently.
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
2012 BMW 3-Series Models Recalled For Head Restraint Issue
BMW is recalling 7,600 new 3-Series models to correct a potential defect with the front seat headrests.
Kurt Ernst -
Though just 2,600 RAV4 EVs will be sold over the next three years, the vehicle's unveiling today at the Electric Vehicle Symposium in Los Angeles marks an important milestone for the brand: the RAV4 EV's powertrain is designed and delivered by Tesla Motors. The cooperative project is the first vehicle to come from the minor tie-up between the two companies, and like the relationship between Tesla and Toyota, the RAV4 EV is mostly about the technology. It will only be sold in four regions within California, and at about 866 units per year, it won't see many homes even within those regions...
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BMW Working On Harder-Edged Z4 Replacement: Report
Make a list of the world’s best-handling roadsters, and what would be on it? The Porsche Boxster, without a doubt, and likely the Honda S2000 (even though it’s no longer in production). We’d expect to see the Nissan 370Z on the list, as well as the Mazda MX-5 Miata. On the other...
Kurt Ernst -
Fisker Karma To Tackle Inaugural Bodensee-Elektrik Rallye
The Fisker Karma will be driven across some of Europe's finest driving roads alongside other green cars including plug-in hybrids and pure battery-powered cars.
Viknesh Vijayenthiran -
The Stock Chevy Camaro ZL1 Runs The Quarter Mile In The 11s: Video
The list of cars that can run the quarter mile in under 12 seconds right off the showroom floor is a short one, populated by cars like the Nissan GT-R, the Ferrari 458 Italia and Chevy’s Corvette Z06 and ZR1. Now you can add the 2012 Chevy Camaro ZL1 to that list as well, as both the manual...
Kurt Ernst -
BMW Announces M Performance Bits For 3 And 5 Series Sedans
In years past, upgrading a car for better performance usually meant going to the aftermarket for lighter wheels, bigger brakes, enhanced aerodynamics and additional horsepower. Manufacturers have since gotten smart, and many now offer in-house performance part divisions to keep customer dollars...
Kurt Ernst -
MINI Supports 2012 Life Ball With New One-Off Designer Roadster
Since 2001, MINI has partnered with the Life Ball, an annual charity event that raises money to combat the spread of HIV and AIDS. Via the donation of 10 designer-prepared MINIs, that automaker has raised over 500,000 euros ($656,500) to support Life Ball in the past decade. This year is no...
Kurt Ernst