Autoblog Canada http://ca.autoblog.com Autoblog Canada http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/ca.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog Canada http://ca.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Video: Italian border agents find $6M in gold bars hidden in car]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/05/italian-border-agents-find-6m-in-gold-bars-hidden-in-car-w-vid/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/05/italian-border-agents-find-6m-in-gold-bars-hidden-in-car-w-vid/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/04/05/italian-border-agents-find-6m-in-gold-bars-hidden-in-car-w-vid/#comments Gold bars confiscated from motorist by Italian police

Border police in Italy struck gold when they dug a little further into a car trying to pass into Switzerland. The car's occupants, a family of five, claimed to be on an "Easter vacation."

But police said their nervous behaviour prompted them to go on an Easter egg hunt. The officers eventually found a dozen gold bars worth at least $6 million hidden in a storage compartment. Police say the 53-year-old driver of the car was a legal representative at a Swiss company and couldn't provide an explanation for where the gold originated or why it was in his car. The police confiscated the gold and the family's car. The driver faces charges of money laundering.

Based upon our extensive experience with gold smuggling, we recommend that next time, he form the gold into body panels for his car. It's a much more effective strategy. At least until a double-nought spy comes looking for you.

For more, watch the full news report video below.


Gallery: Most Expensive Cars to Own


Continue reading Italian border agents find $6M in gold bars hidden in car

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Italian border agents find $6M in gold bars hidden in car originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Fri, 05 Apr 2013 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gold barsgold smugglinggoldfingeritalymoney launderingsmugglingswitzerlandvideoFri, 05 Apr 2013 19:57:00 EST<![CDATA[New York: Honda confirms 2014 Odyssey and Acura MDX for New York Auto Show]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/03/23/honda-confirms-2014-odyssey-and-acura-mdx-for-new-york/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/03/23/honda-confirms-2014-odyssey-and-acura-mdx-for-new-york/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/03/23/honda-confirms-2014-odyssey-and-acura-mdx-for-new-york/#comments

Look beneath the seats of a Honda Odyssey and you'll likely find a handful of that iconic loop cereal loved by toddlers nationwide. And to show that Honda understands its minivan's target market, it is using the breakfast staple to announce its plans to reveal the updated 2014 model at next week's New York Auto Show. While the announcement is creative, it unfortunately lacks much in the way of information, leaving us with little more than a vague teaser alluding to "some innovative new features."

As expected, Honda has also confirmed we will see the production version of the 2014 Acura MDX in New York. We expect the 2014 MDX to look very much like the prototype we saw in January at the Detroit Auto Show with only slight differences. The 3.5-litre i-VTEC V6 will be offered with all-wheel drive or, in a first for MDX, front-wheel drive.

You'll find the official press snippets for both below, and we'll have live images and details on both from the New York Show. Until then... Cheerio!


Gallery: Acura MDX Prototype: Detroit 2013






Continue reading Honda confirms 2014 Odyssey and Acura MDX for New York Auto Show

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Honda confirms 2014 Odyssey and Acura MDX for New York Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Sat, 23 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 acura mdx2014 honda odysseyacuraautoshow2013cheerioshondahonda odysseymdxnew york auto showodysseySat, 23 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How nasty, foot-long "wandering meatloaf" snails could improve car batteries]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/03/16/how-nasty-foot-long-wandering-meatloaf-snails-could-improve-c/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/03/16/how-nasty-foot-long-wandering-meatloaf-snails-could-improve-c/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/03/16/how-nasty-foot-long-wandering-meatloaf-snails-could-improve-c/#comments Underside of Gumboot Chiton marine snail

"Slow" and "ugly" are words used to describe some hybrid cars and, coincidentally, the gumboot chiton. Soon the two may have even more in common thanks to a discovery by researchers at the University of California, Riverside.

Gumboots, also known as the "wandering meatloaf," are foot-long marine snails that roam tidal zones, scraping algae from rocks by using up to 80 rows of magnetite-tipped teeth. Magnetite, the "hardest biomineral known on Earth," not only strengthens the gumboot's chompers, it makes them magnetic as well. New teeth are grown continuously and enter the "wear zone" as old ones wear out.

Click through to keep reading the slow-moving, slimy details and then check out a battery tech video.

Continue reading How nasty, foot-long "wandering meatloaf" snails could improve car batteries

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How nasty, foot-long "wandering meatloaf" snails could improve car batteries originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Sat, 16 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batterieschitoncryptochiton stellerielectric car batteriesev batteriesli-ionlithium ionmagnetic teethmagnetitemarine snailnanotechnologysolarsolar cellsSat, 16 Mar 2013 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Automotive photography SpyCamp is summer fun for the most hardcore car enthusiasts]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/03/16/automotive-photography-spycamp-is-summer-fun-for-the-most-hardco/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/03/16/automotive-photography-spycamp-is-summer-fun-for-the-most-hardco/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/03/16/automotive-photography-spycamp-is-summer-fun-for-the-most-hardco/#commentsIf long hours of solitude spent in the searing hot Arizona desert, punctuated by mere seconds of fleetingly frantic excitement sound appealing to you, then you're the perfect candidate for Brenda Priddy's SpyCamp.

Brenda will host the first class of her SpyCamp this July in an undisclosed location 530 km from Reno, 200 km from Las Vegas. After checking in to your (less than) luxurious accommodations, you'll enjoy a pizza dinner with Brenda at a "famous 'car tester' bar" then spend four very hot days waiting to get that perfect shot of a camo-covered car. Afterward you'll get Brenda's unvarnished critique of your "talents."

The camp application states Ms. Priddy is "not a tour guide," so participants shouldn't expect fun-filled days of frolicking in the sun with the "World's Most Famous Spy." In fact, the app also states, "I DO NOT bail people out of jail and/or pay for traffic violations." So campers, behave!

Included in your US$775 cost (US$1,250 for two) is a "famous BP&Co. SpyCamp 2013 wristband" and a free adrenaline rush. Not included is travel to and from the area, hotel (US$77.95 a night for five nights), car rental (which you'll definitely need) and fuel costs.

For more info, contact spycamp2013 at gmail dot com (written this way so she can avoid spam).

Click through to watch a camo-covered Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen caught on video.

Continue reading Automotive photography SpyCamp is summer fun for the most hardcore car enthusiasts

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Automotive photography SpyCamp is summer fun for the most hardcore car enthusiasts originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Sat, 16 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brenda priddybrenda priddy campbrenda priddy spy campbrenda priddy spyshotsspy photographyspy photosspy shotsspycampspyshotsSat, 16 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Watch a stealth bomber buzz a stadium, then ponder how budget cuts could end the fun for NASCAR]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/03/10/stealth-bomber-flyby-buzz-federal-budget-cuts-could-curb-nascar-pageantry/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/03/10/stealth-bomber-flyby-buzz-federal-budget-cuts-could-curb-nascar-pageantry/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/03/10/stealth-bomber-flyby-buzz-federal-budget-cuts-could-curb-nascar-pageantry/#comments

At your next NASCAR event, you might hear, "Look! Up in the sky! It's, well, nothing." That's because government sequestration budget cuts will probably nix Air Force flyovers that have been a long-time tradition at many NASCAR races in the US.

If fully implemented, the sequestration cuts would force the federal government to cut US$1.2 trillion from its budget over the next 10 years. The reduced spending mandate slashes across every federal department including the Pentagon. Since the high-flying, pre-race panoply is hardly a necessary expense, you can bet it will be among the first picks of low-hanging budgetary fruit to cut.

Last year, Congress banned the armed services from directly sponsoring race teams and USA Today says the March 10 NASCAR race in Las Vegas could be the last flyover for the Air Force's Thunderbirds.

Scroll down to watch a stealth bomber quietly buzz a stadium.

Continue reading Watch a stealth bomber buzz a stadium, then ponder how budget cuts could end the fun for NASCAR

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Watch a stealth bomber buzz a stadium, then ponder how budget cuts could end the fun for NASCAR originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Sun, 10 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air force thunderbirdsblue angelsflyoversmotorsportsnascarnavy blue angelssequestrationthunderbirdsSun, 10 Mar 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Geneva: Volkswagen formally introduces super-efficient XL1]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/03/04/volkswagen-xl1-geneva-2013/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/03/04/volkswagen-xl1-geneva-2013/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/03/04/volkswagen-xl1-geneva-2013/#comments

Lightweight and low drag are hallmarks of great sportscar design. But when paired with a super-efficient, hybrid powertrain, you have the Volkswagen's XL1 that has been formally introduced in Geneva today.

When the 770 kg (1,700-lb), carbon-fibre-bodied two-seater hits the road, its claimed 0.9L/100km (261 mpg) will make it the world's most-fuel-efficient production car. Though "production car" might be a stretch since VW said in a February press release that the XL1 would be built using "handcrafting-like production methods." We translate that to mean you won't be seeing many of these cars on the road. Though no one at VW has mentioned pricing yet, early rumours suggested a six-figure price tag.

That's supercar budget for a vehicle that has a 47-horsepower, two-cylinder diesel engine and a 27hp electric motor. With numbers like that, owners can expect 0-100 km/h times of 12.7 seconds and top speed near 160 km/h (100 mph). No new information was released in Geneva so we still don't know how many XL1s will be built or when interested buyers can start placing their orders.

Still, we invite you to check out the high-res images live from VW's annual pre-show event above and the videos posted below.


Gallery: Volkswagen XL1

Continue reading Volkswagen formally introduces super-efficient XL1

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Volkswagen formally introduces super-efficient XL1 originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Mon, 04 Mar 2013 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autoshow2013genevageneva 2013geneva motor showvolkswagenvolkswagen xl1vwxl1Mon, 04 Mar 2013 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Ailing Peugeot writes-down over US$5.5B in assets]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/02/18/ailing-peugeot-writes-down-over-us-5-5b-in-assets/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/02/18/ailing-peugeot-writes-down-over-us-5-5b-in-assets/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/02/18/ailing-peugeot-writes-down-over-us-5-5b-in-assets/#commentsAssembly line at Peugeot plant with worker and sign

As Europe's economy continues to suffer, so do automakers. One of the latest pieces of bad news comes from French carmaker Peugeot which says it will write down its assets by US$5.53 billion. The figure represents almost 29 per cent of the company's property, valued at US$19.4 billion in June. Peugeot says it will also take a second-half charge of US$325 million for "onerous contracts." Speaking of onerous, The Detroit News notes the "write-downs are more than double Peugeot's current market value." Yipes.

"This calculus results from cautious assumptions about the European economic environment," Chief Financial Officer Jean-Baptiste de Chatillon is quoted as saying in the article. "We think that this European car market will remain affected by the crisis for a long time."

With European auto sales falling the most in almost 20 years, Peugeot executives see little chance of improvement. Peugeot's sales dropped 13 per cent in 2012 and Chatillon said markets could fall another 5 per cent this year.

Efforts to right the ship include cutting 17 per cent of its French workforce, closing a factory near Paris and selling off assets. The French government has offered US$9.3 billion in bond guarantees that await European Union review. In addition, an alliance between General Motors and Peugeot authored last year was meant to save the two companies US$2 billion in annual cost savings and sales improvements over 5 years, but it's currently under review.

Continue reading Ailing Peugeot writes-down over US$5.5B in assets

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Ailing Peugeot writes-down over US$5.5B in assets originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Mon, 18 Feb 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bailouteuropean financial crisisfinancial crisisgeneral motorsjean-baptiste de chatillonpeugeotMon, 18 Feb 2013 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Judge rules against builder of Batmobile replicas]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/02/13/judge-rules-against-builder-of-batmobile-replicas/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/02/13/judge-rules-against-builder-of-batmobile-replicas/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/02/13/judge-rules-against-builder-of-batmobile-replicas/#comments1966 Batmobile

A federal judge has ruled that Batmobile replicas built by Mark Towle, of Gotham Garage, do, in fact, infringe on copyrights and trademarks held by Warner Bros.

Towle's attorney, Larry Zerner, argued that US copyright law doesn't allow "useful articles" to be copyrighted. Zerner, in court documents, insisted that Warner Brothers' lawsuit claimed the entire Batmobile was protected including doors, seats and tires. The judge agreed, but ruled the law does allow copyrighting of unique design elements of useful articles.

"The implications of a ruling upholding this standard are easy to imagine," Zerner wrote. "Ford, Toyota, Ferrari and Honda would start publishing comic books so that they could protect what, up until now, was unprotectable."

US District Judge Ronald Lew disagreed and ruled that, "The Batmobile is a character and exists in both two- and three-dimensional forms. Its existence in three-dimensional form is the consequence of the Batmobile's portrayal in the 1989 live-motion film and 1966 television series.

"Defendant did not copy the design of a mere car; he copied the Batmobile character," Lew continued. "The fact that the unauthorized Batmoble replicas that Defendant manufactured - which are derivative works - may be 'useful articles' is irrelevant. A derivative work can still infringe the underlying copyrighted work even if the derivative work is not independently entitled to copyright protection."

Zerner did, however, duck part of the lawsuit that asserted he willfully infringed on Warner's rights. The judge wrote that Zerner did at least wait until the design patents on the cars expired, and therefore didn't think copyright law applied.

Meanwhile we look forward to the Ferrari comic books.

The entire 54-page court ruling can be read here in PDF form.

Continue reading Judge rules against builder of Batmobile replicas

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Judge rules against builder of Batmobile replicas originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Wed, 13 Feb 2013 08:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batmobilegeorge barrisgotham garagemark towlewarner brosWed, 13 Feb 2013 08:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Fiat 500 least safe vehicle to drive according to insurance website [w/video]]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/30/fiat-500-least-safe-vehicle-to-drive-according-to-insurance-webs/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/30/fiat-500-least-safe-vehicle-to-drive-according-to-insurance-webs/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/30/fiat-500-least-safe-vehicle-to-drive-according-to-insurance-webs/#commentsFiat 500 crash test

When the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crashed a 2012 Fiat 500, the little car got the best scores in all categories. It's a safe car, then, right?

"If safety is a priority, you should avoid the smallest cars," advises Russ Rader, spokesperson for IIHS. "Weight counts. Smaller, lighter cars are safer than they used to be, but all things being equal, people riding in bigger, heavier vehicles get more protection in crashes."

That's why, despite its near-perfect crash-test score, the Fiat 500 is No. 1 on Insure.com's list of worst vehicles for protecting passengers from injuries. In an accident with a larger object, the Fiat's safety cage and array of air bags do what they can to protect passenges, but like eggs in a coffee can, the passengers get thrown about and smashed up.

If the Fiat 500 is like a coffee can, then a fullsize GMC pickup (which tops the website's list of vehicles best at protecting passengers) would be a 50-gallon barrel. In a collision between the two, the barrel of eggs will win every time. The GMC Sierra 1500 is rated best at protecting passengers by Insure.com, but IIHS rated it just average in the side impact test and marginal in the roof strength test. Second place on Insure.com's best list is the Porsche Cayenne, which has not been tested by IIHS. The third through fifth place spots go to the GMC Yukon, Sierra 2500 and Terrain.

The listings are the result of Insure.com's analysis of personal injury protection and medical payment claims which affect what car owners are charged for insurance.

Check out videos of the IIHS crash test of the Fiat 500 as well as the 2009 GMC Sierra 1500 below.

Continue reading Fiat 500 least safe vehicle to drive according to insurance website [w/video]

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Fiat 500 least safe vehicle to drive according to insurance website [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Wed, 30 Jan 2013 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crash testfiat 500 safetyfiat safetygmc 1500gmc crash testgmc safetygmc sierraiihsInsurance Institute for Highway Safetylarge car safetysafest small carsmall car crast testsmall car safetyWed, 30 Jan 2013 13:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Official: BMW, Toyota outline new tech joint venture, new sports car]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/25/bmw-toyota-outline-new-tech-joint-venture-new-sports-car/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/25/bmw-toyota-outline-new-tech-joint-venture-new-sports-car/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/25/bmw-toyota-outline-new-tech-joint-venture-new-sports-car/#commentsToyota and BMW execs sign tech joint venture

Back in June, Toyota and BMW announced a "memorandum of understanding" outlining plans for the two companies to join forces on future products and technology development. On Thursday, they signed a more formal and binding agreement that goes further into detail about the partnership, and it all sounds pretty exciting. The two announced they will work together in four main areas:
  1. Joint development of a fuel cell system
  2. "Set up a feasibility study to define a joint platform concept for a mid-size sports vehicle"
  3. Focus on lightweight technology - the agreement mentions reinforced composites that could be used in the aforementioned sports vehicle
  4. Better batteries - the companies will work to develop a lithium-air battery with a much greater energy density than today's cells.
The most intriguing item is the mention of a "mid-size sports vehicle." The vague term had us wondering what, exactly, is meant by "sports vehicle," but we're being assured this feasibility study is centered on a sports car. Is this the first step toward a Supra revival?

Despite our fervoor for all things sports car, however, fuel cell research could prove to be the pact's most important point. Both companies have built advanced fuel research vehicles, with Toyota favouring fuel cells and BMW leaning toward hydrogen-powered, internal combustion. The press release specifically lists fuel cell stacks, hydrogen tanks, motors and batteries as areas of interest. If the two can eventually bring a fuel-cell vehicle to market at an affordable price point, it would be huge news, although there's always the problem of infrastructure to support such cars. BMW and Toyota's new deal can't solve everything though, right? Read the full press release below for more information.

Continue reading BMW, Toyota outline new tech joint venture, new sports car

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BMW, Toyota outline new tech joint venture, new sports car originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Fri, 25 Jan 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternative fuelbmwelectric carevfuel cellhydrogenlithium ion batteriessoprts carsports vehicletoyotaFri, 25 Jan 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Russians create Toyota Land Cruiser ice sculpture with full interior]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/24/russians-create-toyota-land-cruiser-ice-sculpture-with-full-inte/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/24/russians-create-toyota-land-cruiser-ice-sculpture-with-full-inte/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/24/russians-create-toyota-land-cruiser-ice-sculpture-with-full-inte/#comments

The Toyota Land Cruiser is a pretty hot model around the world. But it took the Russians to make it cool. We have few hard, cold facts and only small slivers of information about these photos, but it seems the icy Toyota was part of the International Snow & Ice Festival in Perm, Russia.

Artists took a huge chunk of ice and shaved it down to the temporary art installation you see here. The sub-zero SUV comes complete with a full interior accessed by the (permanently frozen open) driver's side door. The steering wheel and seats look to be upholstered in, well, dirt. With the back seats removed, the frigid four-door is a pretty slick ride in which to chill out.

Just a thought, but wouldn't a Toyota Tundra have been more appropriate? See the gallery for more photos.

Continue reading Russians create Toyota Land Cruiser ice sculpture with full interior

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Russians create Toyota Land Cruiser ice sculpture with full interior originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 24 Jan 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ice and snow festivalice carvingice sculptureland cruiserpermrussiatoyotaThu, 24 Jan 2013 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Official: Ford Fusion and Fusion Hybrid nab five-star ratings from NHTSA]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/24/ford-fusion-and-fusion-hybrid-nab-five-star-ratings-from-nhtsa/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/24/ford-fusion-and-fusion-hybrid-nab-five-star-ratings-from-nhtsa/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/24/ford-fusion-and-fusion-hybrid-nab-five-star-ratings-from-nhtsa/#comments2013 Ford Fusion

Ford's Fusion and Fusion Hybrid have both received the highest five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The rating is a big upgrade for the Fusion, which was completely redesigned for 2013. The previous model fell one star short of the top rating, after scoring only three stars in the frontal crash test and four stars in the side crash test and rollover evaluations. The 2013 Fusion received four stars in side crash and rollover testing and a full five stars in the front crash test.

Test results for the 2013 Fusion and Fusion Hybrid were greatly improved at least in part due to Ford's Personal Safety System. The system utilizes smarter sensors to gather crash data and tailor the car's restraint systems to the occupants. Seatbelt usage and seat position are taken into account to ensure airbags deploy with less pressure for smaller drivers, more for larger drivers.

The 2013 Fusion twins also received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick+ designation. Read the official press release below.

Continue reading Ford Fusion and Fusion Hybrid nab five-star ratings from NHTSA

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Ford Fusion and Fusion Hybrid nab five-star ratings from NHTSA originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Thu, 24 Jan 2013 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 ford fusioncrash testfive star ratingfordfusionfusion safetyIIHSnhtsasafetytop safety pickThu, 24 Jan 2013 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Exclusive: Corvette Stingray Convertible images mysteriously appear on web, so we add our own]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/22/chevrolet-c7-corvette-stingray-convertible-images-mysteriously-appear-on-web/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/22/chevrolet-c7-corvette-stingray-convertible-images-mysteriously-appear-on-web/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/22/chevrolet-c7-corvette-stingray-convertible-images-mysteriously-appear-on-web/#commentsCorvette Stingray Convertible - silver rendering

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible - alleged leaked imageIt was inevitable that we'd see the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray topless at some point, but that didn't make us any less interested when a pair of supposedly leaked official images showed up on theautoinsiderblog.com last week. We posted them on our Facebook page, but held off reporting on them here until we could get a little more information.

Those images, which feature a dark red car on a sterile black studio background, supposedly first appeared on the website of diecast model maker Maisto. A Chevrolet spokesman has been reported saying that they are "not official images released by Chevrolet PR," which isn't a denial they're the real deal, but neither is it a confirmation.

Close examination of the photos suggest they could be official shots of the Corvette Stingray Convertible, and while some have doubted their authenticity due to a lack of vents (which were seen on the C7s that debuted in Detroit last week), it could be that the images are of a base model car without the Z51 package that doesn't require the extra venting and cooling.

While we've waited to learn more, we had some artist friends of ours work up our own exclusive renderings that place a silver 2014 Corvette Stingray Convertible in a more natural, wind-in-you-hair (or not, in the case of our cue-balled driver) outdoor setting. Now in addition to imagining the topless C7 sitting in your all-black garage, you can visualize yourself blasting down a country road with the wind whipping through your, uh, eyebrows.

Continue reading Corvette Stingray Convertible images mysteriously appear on web, so we add our own

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Corvette Stingray Convertible images mysteriously appear on web, so we add our own originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Tue, 22 Jan 2013 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2014 chevrolet corvette stingray2014 chevrolet corvette stingray convertiblec7chevroletcorvettecorvette convertiblefirst driveleakedofficialrenderingstingrayTue, 22 Jan 2013 13:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Detroit: eBay Find Of The Day: Chevrolet Corvette Stingray press kit for charity]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/16/ebay-find-of-the-day-chevrolet-corvette-stingray-press-kit-for/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/16/ebay-find-of-the-day-chevrolet-corvette-stingray-press-kit-for/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/16/ebay-find-of-the-day-chevrolet-corvette-stingray-press-kit-for/#comments

Members of the motoring press who were invited to the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray reveal all left with a pretty sweet press kit. The individually numbered black box within a black box contained not only a chunky little flash drive, but a paperweight adorned with an actual Stingray badge.

Before we even left the press reveal, at least one had popped up on eBay. There are several there now, including one being auctioned by Chevrolet for charity. Chevy's auction features number 1 of the 2,014 produced. Not only that, but the interior black box has been signed by "key GM executives."

With just about a half a day left on the timer, the bidding has reached more than $1,500 for this piece of rare Vette memorabilia. Considering it's the first kit in the series and the money will go to the American Cancer Society, we can't really argue with the steep price. Happy bidding, Corvette fans.

Continue reading eBay Find Of The Day: Chevrolet Corvette Stingray press kit for charity

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eBay Find Of The Day: Chevrolet Corvette Stingray press kit for charity originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Wed, 16 Jan 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 detroit auto show2014 chevrolet corvetteauctionc7charitychevroletchevycorvettedetroitdetroit 2013ebaypress kitpresskitstingrayWed, 16 Jan 2013 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Official: Nissan Leaf becomes least expensive 5-seat EV with massive price drop]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/15/nissan-leaf-becomes-least-expensive-5-seat-ev-with-massive-price/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/15/nissan-leaf-becomes-least-expensive-5-seat-ev-with-massive-price/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/15/nissan-leaf-becomes-least-expensive-5-seat-ev-with-massive-price/#comments2013 nissan leaf

In a roundtable interview today at the North American International Auto Show, Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn announced a US$6,400 price drop for the base-model 2013 Nissan Leaf. Last year's base model was US$35,200, while the new base-level 2013 Leaf S starts at US$28,800. Ghosn says the new prices make the Leaf the least expensive five-seater electric for sale in the US.

Some of the lower cost is due to a difference in content from last year's low-end model to this year's. But a sizable portion can be chalked up to the Leaf's production moving from Japan to Tennessee. The 2013 Leaf is not only assembled in the US now, but its lithium-ion batteries and the car's electric motors are manufactured in the same southern state.

The Leaf SV will be priced from US$31,820 for 2013 compared to US$35,200 last year. The high-end Leaf SL now starts at US$34,840, down from the 2012 model's US$37,250. These models also have differences in content. One big one is a new 6.6-kWh charger that reduces charging times pretty dramatically. (Canadian pricing is TBD but expect it to be the lowest price EV available on the market).

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Nissan Leaf becomes least expensive 5-seat EV with massive price drop originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Tue, 15 Jan 2013 15:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2013 detroit auto show2013 leaf2013 nissan leafcheap evcheapest electric cardetroitdetroit 2013leafleaf price dropleast expensive electric carnissanTue, 15 Jan 2013 15:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Logic3 classes up headphones with prancing horse]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/11/logic3-classes-up-headphones-with-prancing-horse/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/11/logic3-classes-up-headphones-with-prancing-horse/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/11/logic3-classes-up-headphones-with-prancing-horse/#comments

White earphones too bland for you? Black too slow? Your otherwise high-end cans just not expensive enough? Logic3 hopes to remedy your plight with its new line of Ferrari branded earphones and headphones.

Logic3's Cavallino line is intended for the well-heeled audio enthusiast with aluminum housings covered in hand-stitched, lambskin leather. The Scuderia collection is also built with aluminum but instead of leather, the earphones' colors closely match those of Ferrari's F1 team. Yellow badges and aluminum grilles complete the look.

Both lines also include over-the-ear headphones and Bluetooth compatible dock station speakers. The Scuderia line headphones mimic the look of hearing protection worn by F1 pit crews.

In Ferrari's online store, Scuderia earphones are $206. Cavallino shoppers will pay between $220 and $247 for earphones. Performance specs look to be the same between the different lines as well as price levels. Headphones start at $338 and cap out at $438 in the Scuderia lineup while entry into the Cavallino headphones is $386 and goes up to $477. Sound performance is the same as that for the lower-end lineup.

Ferrari also lent its brand to three speaker dock models. A Scuderia-level speaker without Bluetooth is $662 and $822 with. The Cavallino model gets better performance specs, a different looking shell and $1,009 price tag.

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Logic3 classes up headphones with prancing horse originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Fri, 11 Jan 2013 17:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiocesces 2013designear budsearphonesferrariferrari ear budsferrari headphonesheadphoneslogic3Fri, 11 Jan 2013 17:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Official: Chrysler UConnect wins AOL Autos Technology of the Year Award]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/09/chrysler-uconnect-wins-aol-autos-tech-of-the-year/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/09/chrysler-uconnect-wins-aol-autos-tech-of-the-year/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/09/chrysler-uconnect-wins-aol-autos-tech-of-the-year/#commentsAOL Autos Tech of the Year

The first annual AOL Autos Technology of the Year Award has been won by Chrysler's upgraded UConnect system.

Over 35 entries were considered and narrowed down to six finalists in three categories: Connectivity, Telematics and Active Safety. The judges, which included editors from AOL Autos, Autoblog and Engadget, as well as a number of other auto and tech journalists and luminaries, chose UConnect over the MyFord Mobile app, Audi Connect with Google Maps, Cadillac CUE, Honda's LaneWatch technology and Nissan's Tire Pressure Alert and Refill System. Even readers who were polled on which technology should win chose UConnect.

AOL Autos Editor in Chief David Kiley remarked that Chrysler's UConnect deserved the first Technology of the Year Award not because of what it does, but for how UConnect performs every time it's used. Kiley went on to say UConnect works the way it's supposed to, fills a need and puts a smile on your face. By meeting those requirements, UConnect very much deserved AOL Auto's first Tech of the Year award.

Accepting the trophy was Marios Zenios, head of connectivity for Chrysler. The official announcement was made today, Wednesday, on the Engadget stage at CES in Las Vegas.

Click here to watch the short video on Chrysler's award-winning UConnect for yourself.


Gallery: Chrysler Uconnect: 2013 CES

Continue reading Chrysler UConnect wins AOL Autos Technology of the Year Award

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Chrysler UConnect wins AOL Autos Technology of the Year Award originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Wed, 09 Jan 2013 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012aol autosawardchryslertechnology of the yearuconnectWed, 09 Jan 2013 17:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Delphi to offer clever DIY smartphone interface for older cars]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/08/delphi-to-offer-clever-diy-smartphone-interface-for-older-cars/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/08/delphi-to-offer-clever-diy-smartphone-interface-for-older-cars/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/08/delphi-to-offer-clever-diy-smartphone-interface-for-older-cars/#comments

Those of us with an older car might be feeling a bit jealous of all the new cars with their fancy smart phone apps. But if you have a 1996 or newer vehicle, you may soon be able to bring your car closer to those new-fangled models.

Autoblog spoke with Craig Tieman, advanced concepts and market development manager for Delphi, at the 2013 CES in Las Vegas Monday night about Delphi's Connected Car device. The matchbox-sized box plugs into a car's OBDII port to provide a link from your smartphone to your car.

From there, things get really interesting. After scanning your car's onboard computers, the little black box pairs with your smart phone and offers a choice of key fob designs on the screen. Choose the one that most resembles your car's original fob, and you're ready to go. Essentially, the smartphone app replaces all of the functions of your fob. Honk the panic button, open the doors, remote start, etc.

Using the OBDII connection, Delphi's gadget can also be used as an error code scanner to help you determine the source of your car's problems. Depending on the model of your car, the smartphone app can even display fuel level, battery health, and several other datapoints including a list of all trips, average speed, etc.

More? Okay. The Connected Car also can provide location information. If your teen driver sets out in the snow, you can track the vehicle's route in almost real time. Using your smart phone, you can even set up virtual geofencing boundaries that, if crossed, will send you an email. So you'll know when Junior is taking your Camaro to the drag strip, or when your little Snowflake is visiting that older boy you told her she couldn't see any more.

All this is can be done using Verizon's mobile service, so you can access the information from anywhere your phone can receive a signal. No phone? A web browser interface is also available.

If you're trying to unlock your car deep within your underground bunker and have no cell service, the Connected Car also includes a Bluetooth module. Once paired, cell service isn't needed for most of the basic functions.

Tieman says this is only the beginning, pledging to expect new functionality soon after the device is launched in February. Pricing of the Connected Car, to be sold by Verizon, as well as the service fees, haven't been determined. But, hey... it's got to be cheaper than buying a new car.

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Delphi to offer clever DIY smartphone interface for older cars originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Tue, 08 Jan 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>code readerconnected cardelphidelphi connected cargeofencingobdiiobdii scannertelematicsverizonTue, 08 Jan 2013 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford announces app developer program]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/08/ford-announces-app-developer-program/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/08/ford-announces-app-developer-program/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/08/ford-announces-app-developer-program/#comments

Ford used the occasion of CES to announce that the Ford Developer Program, the automaker's own app developer program, would be open to anyone wanting to participate. Ford will provide its software developer kit to registered software writers who will then have access to code libraries and documentation to allow them to write apps to "enable two-way communication between mobile apps" and Sync-equipped Ford vehicles "including voice commands from the driver."

Several apps have already been developed by a select group of beta-testing code-crunchers. Some of the more interesting ones include the Amazon Cloud Player that will allow users to access music stored in Amazon's cloud, USA Today which will provide audio versions of the national newspaper, and BeCouply, a new app that gives entertainment suggestions to couples looking for date ideas.

Got an idea for an app but no idea how to write it? Ford has teamed with Michigan-based jacAPPS to be the "recommended mobile app development house." Read the entire press release below.

Continue reading Ford announces app developer program

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Ford announces app developer program originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Tue, 08 Jan 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app developmentCESces 2013consumer electronics show 2013fordmobile appssoftware development kitsyncTue, 08 Jan 2013 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Renault will have new Alpine ready by end of 2015]]>http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/05/renault-will-have-new-alpine-ready-by-end-of-2015/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/05/renault-will-have-new-alpine-ready-by-end-of-2015/http://ca.autoblog.com/2013/01/05/renault-will-have-new-alpine-ready-by-end-of-2015/#comments

We earlier reported that Renault's revival of the Alpine name would take four years. But Stephen Norman, head of marketing for Renault, says to expect the first new Alpine sometime before the end of 2015.

Norman also tells Autocar that the Alpine jointly developed with Caterham "won't be more hardcore than a Mazda MX-5." He went on to say we should expect a competitor for the Porsche Boxster and high-performance Audi TTS. "You can't betray the DNA of Alpine," Norman says. "That's a third of what the car will be."

But the executive also says its DNA is certainly French, "It must be light and look different, and have a touch of French Dash. It's not a car for dandies, though." Norman says the target buyer is either French or a Francophile.

The French-styled, Miata-like, Boxter competitor is expected to have a price tag around £50,000 (CAD $65,841) and is predicted to have a 250-horsepower Renault engine.


Gallery: Renault Alpine A110-50 Concept

Continue reading Renault will have new Alpine ready by end of 2015

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Renault will have new Alpine ready by end of 2015 originally appeared on Autoblog Canada on Sat, 05 Jan 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alpinealpine revivalaudi ttaudi tt competitorboxtercaterhamfrench dnamiatamx-5porsche boxster competitorrenaultstephen normanSat, 05 Jan 2013 18:00:00 EST